When motorcyclists are cut off by vehicles, they sometimes crash and suffer injuries. Frequently, motorcyclists involved in Florida motorcycle accidents are at risk for sustaining tibia or fibula fractures. This is because the lower-extremity is the most common area motorcyclists injure in wrecks.
The lower leg is comprised of the tibia (shin bone) and fibula (calf bone). Because the shin bone is a weight bearing bone that extends from the knee to the ankle and is the second longest bone in the body, complications can arise when a tibia fracture occurs. The types of fractures that occur anywhere along the tibia/fibula bones include:
- Stable or unstable fractures – A stable bone fracture is one in which the fracture is linear and no displacement of the ends of the bones have occurred. Most fractures are unstable bone fractures—one where the bone is not in its correct alignment.
- Open or closed fractures – Closed fractures have the skin still intact, whereas open fractures involve punctured skin which leaves the bone exposed and open to contamination.
- Complete or incomplete fractures – A complete fracture separates the bone completely, and an incomplete fracture leaves the bone partially joined together.
- Angulated fractures – This type of fracture occurs when the bone has broken into an angle and it no longer lines up in a straight line.
- Displaced or non-displaced fractures – When a bone remains in alignment but there is a crack in the bone, a non-displaced fracture of the tibial plateau has occurred. If the bone is displaced and doesn’t line up, surgery is needed to piece together the fragments of the bone.
Sarasota Tibia/Fibula Fractures
When a tibia fracture occurs, it is often considered a medical emergency as it is a very serious injury that could result in large amounts of blood loss, damaged blood vessels, swelling, and nerve damage. When broken skin occurs and an open tibia fracture is visible, the injury can also lead to infection, amputation, and even death.
Treatment of tibia/fibula injuries depends on the type of fracture that occurred. If the fracture is an open, displaced fracture, surgery will be required. If surgery happens, a patient may be unable to bear weight for some time, which often leads to joint stiffness and loss of range of motion. Following surgery and rest, physical therapy will be needed for months. An injured motorcyclist may not return to the life he or she once knew for six months to a year or more—affecting his or her ability to ride, be employed, and his or her future well-being.
If you have suffered a tibia r fibula fracture in a Sarasota motorcycle accident, you need expert legal representation to get you the compensation you deserve for your medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost wages, and more. Call Mallard Perez, a Sarasota personal injury law firm, at 888-409-3805 for a free consultation and request a free copy of our book What You Need to Know After a Florida Auto, Truck or Bike Accident.
