Sports Injury Info

Question - Broken Fibula

by Kyle Humphrey
(Glendale, AZ, USA)

I broke my fibula about 9 weeks ago just above my ankle bone. For the first month I was in a plaster cast, then the doctor put me in a walking cast. The first two weeks I was still using the crutches with the walking cast, after that I have been walking on it. My break was diagonal all the way through the bone. The bone shifted very little, and because I do not have health insurance I opted not to get surgery.

The Dr. also told me I tore the ligaments down both sides of my ankle as there was a lot of swelling and stirrup like bruises all the way up to mid calf on the both sides of my ankle. I was supposed to have my last appointment with the Dr. this week but due to the fact that each visit costs me about $250 dollars I just couldn't afford to pay more than I already have, so I cancelled it.

My ankle still hurts around the break when I walk on it very much, and I would say I have about 50% mobility when I take my cast off. It still can not support much weight and is still a little swollen around the ankle bone. Should I continue to wear the cast? How long will it take before the tendons are healed and I can golf/ play softball again? Thank you!

-Kyle

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Question - Broken Fibula

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Aug 16, 2008
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You need a follow up X-ray...
by: Bart - SII

The only way to tell how well the bone is healing is to have a follow up X-ray. If you had one at your last appointment and everything looked ok, the bone was healing well, and your physician wasn't worried, you should be fine. But without a final X-ray, especially one after 6 weeks of healing, it is hard to tell how the bone is responding.

Recovery can take quite awhile - the bone is usually healed well enough (if all goes well) to weightbear after 6-8 weeks - and then most will need several weeks of therapy to regain their motion and strength.

Without therapy, recovery will be slower and the overall result will not be as good.

Bart

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