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Can A Spiral Fracture Of Mid Shaft Tibia Be Cured Without Surgery?
Question: Yes please my son age 17 broke his tibia about two weeks ago. He is in a full leg cast and seems to be healing well. Yesterday the doctor said there is a 5% chance he may need surgery. This concerns me. We live in Thailand and I don't trust everything doctors say. I have the X-rays. Thanks
Brief Answer:
Attach the X-rays.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for posting your query.
In case of tibia fracture, if there is minimal displacement of the fractured fragments after the application of cast then a surgery is not needed. If the fractured fragments are well aligned and your son is not bearing any weight on the leg then there is no need to worry.
You can attach the X-rays both before the cast and after the cast in the box provided on the right hand side of this query page for better evaluation.
In case you have additional questions or doubts, you can forward them to me, and I shall be glad to help you out.
Wishing you good health.
Regards.
Dr. Praveen Tayal.
For future query, you can directly approach me through my profile URL http://bit.ly/Dr-Praveen-Tayal
Attach the X-rays.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for posting your query.
In case of tibia fracture, if there is minimal displacement of the fractured fragments after the application of cast then a surgery is not needed. If the fractured fragments are well aligned and your son is not bearing any weight on the leg then there is no need to worry.
You can attach the X-rays both before the cast and after the cast in the box provided on the right hand side of this query page for better evaluation.
In case you have additional questions or doubts, you can forward them to me, and I shall be glad to help you out.
Wishing you good health.
Regards.
Dr. Praveen Tayal.
For future query, you can directly approach me through my profile URL http://bit.ly/Dr-Praveen-Tayal
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I have att hed the Xrays. The first two are with the cast on taken yesterday in Thailand. Ye last ine is taken in Japan after the skiing accident. We ubderstand that it will take longer to heal in a cast. That is ok. He is young. We just want to make aute we are making the tight decision as surgery is the last option. Thanks
Brief Answer:
It is likely to heal well.
Detailed Answer:
Hello.
Thanks for writing again.
I have seen the reports attached. There is a spiral fracture of mid shaft tibia. The alignment in the cast is good and there is every chance of it healing well in 6-8 weeks if the foot is kept at rest and he gets a good calcium and protein rich diet to heal well.
Do not bear weight on the foot and get a check X-ray done after 3 weeks to see if the alignment in the cast is well maintained. You have taken the right decision. Please do not worry.
Hope my answer is helpful.
Do accept my answer in case there are no further queries.
Regards.
It is likely to heal well.
Detailed Answer:
Hello.
Thanks for writing again.
I have seen the reports attached. There is a spiral fracture of mid shaft tibia. The alignment in the cast is good and there is every chance of it healing well in 6-8 weeks if the foot is kept at rest and he gets a good calcium and protein rich diet to heal well.
Do not bear weight on the foot and get a check X-ray done after 3 weeks to see if the alignment in the cast is well maintained. You have taken the right decision. Please do not worry.
Hope my answer is helpful.
Do accept my answer in case there are no further queries.
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you for your answer. We will have him rest and eat a proper diet heavy in calcium. I am sorry my last message was full of typos. You wiuld never know I am working on my PhD. Do you know of any websites with physio exercises? He is a golfer. Thanks
Brief Answer:
Physiotherapy needed after cast removal.
Detailed Answer:
Right now he can do only passive non weight bearing exercises. It is best to learn the exercises best for him from a proficient physiotherapy. Rest of the exercises can be started only after the cast is removed and the bone has healed.
He can do only soft tissue massage and calf tightening to decrease the muscle stiffness till the time cast is removed.
Regards.
Physiotherapy needed after cast removal.
Detailed Answer:
Right now he can do only passive non weight bearing exercises. It is best to learn the exercises best for him from a proficient physiotherapy. Rest of the exercises can be started only after the cast is removed and the bone has healed.
He can do only soft tissue massage and calf tightening to decrease the muscle stiffness till the time cast is removed.
Regards.
Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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