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What is the fibula job?
Unlike the tibia, the fibula is not a weight-bearing bone. Its main function is to combine with the tibia and provide stability to the ankle joint. The distal end of the fibula has several grooves for ligament attachments which then stabilize and provide leverage during the ankle movements.
Does the fibula do anything?
The fibula provides lateral stability for the lower leg and acts as a tie rod to increase the range of motion for the ankle, especially lateral and medial rotation of the foot. Stress fractures of the fibula can occur with repetitive stress impact exercises like running.
What does the fibula bone support?
The fibula, or calf bone, is a small bone located on the outside of the leg. The tibia, or shinbone, is the weight-bearing bone and is in the inside of the lower leg. The fibula and the tibia join together at the knee and ankle joints. The two bones help to stabilize and support the ankle and lower leg muscles.
What is the function of tibia and fibula?
The larger of the two bones is the tibia. It is the shin bone and bears the majority of weight between the knee and the ankle. Lateral to (on the outer side of) the tibia is the fibula, a smaller long bone that provides stability and assists with rotation of the ankle.
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.
Can you walk without a fibula?
The fibula is a long, thin bone of the outer leg alongside the shinbone. It is sometimes used to harvest bone that can be used in certain reconstructive surgeries of bone. The fibula can be removed without impacting the individual’s ability to walk or bear weight.
Can you walk on a nonunion fibula fracture?
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.
Does broken fibula require surgery?
When the syndesmosis is damaged at the ankle, an injury that can occur along with a fibula fracture, surgery is often required to restore the alignment of the bones. Fibular fractures with ankle injuries will usually require surgery to correct.
Can you walk if you break your fibula?
Is a fibula fracture serious?
Fibular fractures are usually treated as emergencies. You should visit a doctor if you suspect you have such a fracture. Call 911 or your local emergency helpline number if there’s been a high-energy injury such as a motor vehicle accident or gunshot wound.
Can a fibula heal on its own?
While isolated fibula fractures usually heal quickly, some may involve more complex injuries that require further treatment. That’s why it’s critical for a medical professional familiar with the treatment of fibula fractures to evaluate your injury and ensure that appropriate treatment is recommended.
What are the functions of the fibula?
The fibula is the long, thin and lateral bone of the lower leg. It runs parallel to the tibia, or shin bone, and plays a significant role in stabilizing the ankle and supporting the muscles of the lower leg.
What is the difference between tibia and fibula?
As nouns the difference between tibia and fibula. is that tibia is (anatomy) the inner and usually the larger of the two bones of the leg or hind limb below the knee while fibula is (anatomy) the smaller of the two bones in the lower leg, the calf bone.
How long is recovery from fibula?
Normally, for Compound Tibia or Fibula Fracture, it takes roughly 6 to 8 months for an individual to recover and get back to normal activities. In some cases, recovery period may even take longer depending on the severity of the injury and the complexity of the procedure to fix compound tibia or fibula fracture.
What causes pain in the tibia and fibula?
The most commonly-reported causes of fibula pain are calf strain, varicose veins, and bone fractures. More serious causes include osteomas, which are abnormal outgrowths of bone tissue, and osteomyelitis , an infection with bacterial and fungal origins.