How do you rehab a broken fibula?
Specific physical therapy activities to expect following a fibula fracture or any other broken ankle bone typically include:
- Walking instruction. Physical therapists can help patients begin putting weight on the injured leg and gradually progress to full weight.
- Gait training.
- Swelling reduction.
- Exercise.
Can I weight bear on broken fibula?
Because the fibula is not a weight-bearing bone, your doctor might allow you walk as the injury recovers. You also might be advised to use crutches, avoiding weight on the leg, until the bone heals because of the fibula’s role in ankle stability. Tibia fracture vs.
Can you walk on a broken fibula after 4 weeks?
You have sustained a fracture to your outside ankle bone (fibula). This takes approximately 6 to 8 weeks to heal, although pain and swelling can continue for three to six months. You can walk on the foot as comfort allows although you may find it easier to walk with crutches in the early stages.
Can you exercise with a fractured fibula?
Free weight or machine lifting – You can still keep your back, chest, and arms engaged while you’re rehabbing your broken fibula. Floor workouts – movements such as planks and push-ups can help you break a sweat without prolonging your recovery process.
How long is physical therapy for broken fibula?
NON WEIGHT BEARING PERIOD OF PHYSICAL THERAPY This contributes to the prolonged healing time and requires a period of about 6 weeks where no weight is put on that leg. Depending on the severity of the break and the complexity of the surgery that time could be even longer.
How long does a fibula stress fracture take to heal?
Distal Fibula Stress Fracture
| Healing: | This normally takes approximately 6 weeks to heal. |
|---|---|
| Pain and Swelling: | The swelling is often worse at the end of the day and elevating it will help. Pain and swelling can be ongoing for 3-6 months. Take pain killers as prescribed. |
Why is my broken fibula not healing?
After a fracture occurs, new bone tissue forms to connect the broken pieces. When the broken bone fails to heal it is called a “nonunion.” For bone healing to happen, the bone needs adequate stability and blood supply. Nonunions happen when the bone lacks adequate stability and/or blood flow.
What puts stress on the fibula?
Stress fractures of the fibula are caused by an imbalance between bone formation and bone resorption (removal). When the fibula is loaded or stressed, such as during weight-bearing exercise, it responds by increasing its bone turnover. This is necessary for it to live up to your demands on it.
How easy is it to break your fibula?
It supports just about 15% of your body weight but even so, if you come down on your fibula wrong, it’s an easy bone to snap. The fibula can fracture in numerous places, and in numerous ways, including: Stress fractures occur when repeated impact causes the bone to wear down and break. This is an overuse injury.
How is a fibular fracture of the tibial articular fixed?
If the fibular fracture is simple, this fracture is fixed as a first step by open reduction and stable plate fixation. This indirectly reduces attached lateral fragments of the tibial articular surface through the usually intact syndesmotic ligaments.
How is gross realignment of the fibula stabilized?
Since the syndesmotic ligaments are usually intact, gross realignment of the fibula often occurs as the tibia is reduced (b). The comminuted fibular fracture can often be stabilized with a subcutaneous plate, without exposing the fragments (c) using a long bridging plate (d).
Is it possible to reduce a comminuted fibular fracture?
Comminuted fibular fractures (a) are difficult to reduce accurately. In such cases it is usually better to reconstruct the tibia first and use the tibia and talus as guides for positioning the lateral malleolus, if necessary. This usually reduces the fibular fracture indirectly.
How is the subperiosteal dissection of the fibula performed?
Subperiosteal dissection is performed 360° around the fibula at the osteotomy sites. While protecting the peroneal vessel with a periosteal elevator, an osteotomy is then carried out from posterior to anterior using a giggly saw or a sagittal saw.