What to do for fractures of the tibia, fibula, and patella
I accidentally got injured, and now my tibia and fibula as well as my patella are fractured. The pain is unbearable, and my leg has also swollen up. What should I do in this situation?
Doctor's answer (1)
The bones of the lower leg are actually the tibia and fibula, not the humerus, which is located in the upper limb. For fractures of the lower leg and patella (kneecap), treatment typically follows these steps:
1. Initial management: Ensure the patient's vital signs are stable and immediately implement basic first aid measures such as hemostasis (stopping the bleeding) and pain relief.
2. Imaging examinations: Use X-rays, CT scans, or MRI to clearly determine the type, exact location, and severity of the fracture, as well as to assess whether there are accompanying soft tissue injuries or neurovascular damage.
3. Fracture reduction and fixation: Simple fractures with no or minimal displacement can be treated non-surgically using immobilization with casts or braces. Open fractures or those with significant displacement usually require surgical intervention, such as internal fixation with plates, nails, or external fixation devices.
4. Medication therapy: If pain is severe, analgesics such as ibuprofen sustained-release capsules may be used. Additionally, medications such as vitamin D drops and fracture and contusion capsules can be administered to assist in fracture recovery.
Regular follow-up examinations are also necessary after surgery, using periodic imaging studies to assess the healing progress of the fracture.
In addition, close attention should be paid to the prevention of complications such as infection and deep vein thrombosis (DVT), and prompt treatment should be given if they occur.
