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The response to the question below was authored by Marc Mitnick DPM

tibia fracture

by angela
(trinidad)

I fractured my tibia an fibia in a car accident three months ago, June 4. I was in back slab for two weeks then in a long leg cast. they removed the long leg cast a week ago and I was sent for physiotheraphy. my first appointment is tomorrow.

I am concerned that my foot from the ankle down cannot stand flat because of how it was in the cast. It is not in a 90 degree position so that if i were to rest it down it stays on the balls of my feet near the toes. the heel does not go down. I cannot put weight on it as yet until therapy.

My ankle does not bend although I have been doing some suggested toe pointing. Will my ankle ever be able to bend normally again? I also cannot bend my knee very well it goes up to about 45 degrees and is stuck. It is very painful to move it anymore. I am also getting swelling in the knee.

ANSWER

Hi Angela,

You do not mention how far up the leg the tibia and fibular bones were fractured but if the fractures were near the ankle there is always the possibility that the ankle joint may end up being mis-aligned and this could cause you problems later on. You did not have any surgery on the broken bones so I must make the assumption that your doctors felt the alignment was fine.
If your fractures were further up the leg, once again alignment becomes some what of an issue but not as dramatic as if the the ankle joint had been fractured.
More than likely the reason you are having problems with your foot right now, is due to stiffness that developed while in the cast and I assume you were also non-weightbearing for all or at least a portion of the time you were in a cast.
The point of physical therapy is to increase the range of motion in your ankle joint and even perhaps your knee joint.
I would expect that as you go through physical therapy, you will start to see an improvement in your alignment and the way your foot functions. If for some reason there is no improvement than it would necessitate a visit to your doctor for further evaluation.

Marc Mitnick DPM
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