A shinbone fracture is a break in the larger bone of lower leg. This bone is called tibia.
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It may be caused by trauma from:
Things that may raise your risk are:
Shinbone fracture may cause:
The doctor will ask about symptoms, past health, and how the injury happened. Images of your leg will be taken to confirm a break and see how severe it is. Tests may include:
It can take 4 to 6 months to heal. The goals of treatment are to ease pain and swelling. This may include:
Children's bones have growth plates that let bones grow and harden with age. A child with a fracture may need to be checked over time to make sure the bone heals the right way and keeps growing.
Some fractures cause pieces of bone to come apart. These pieces will need to be put back into place. This may be done:
Most fractures are due to accidents. Keeping bones and muscles strong may help. This may be done through diet and exercise.
American Physical Therapy Association
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Ortho Info—American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
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Canadian Orthopaedic Association
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Canadian Orthopaedic Foundation
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Fractures of the proximal tibia (shinbone). Ortho Info—American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons website. Available at: http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00393. Updated May 2019. Accessed December 9, 2019.
Pallin D. Knee and Lower Leg. In: Marx, Hockberger, et al, eds. Rosen’s Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 8th ed. Mosby; 2013.
Preventing falls and related fractures. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases website. Available at: https://www.bones.nih.gov/health-info/bone/osteoporosis/fracture/preventing-falls-and-related-fractures. Updated December 2018. Accessed December 9, 2019.
Tibia shaft fracture—emregency management. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at:https://www.dynamed.com/management/tibia-shaft-fracture-emergency-management. Accessed December 9, 2019.
Tibia (shinbone) shaft fractures. Ortho Info—American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons website. Available at: http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00522. Updated May 2018. Accessed December 9, 2019.
Last reviewed January 2021 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Laura Lei-Rivera, PT, DPT, GCS