Fibula Fracture (Broken Fibula)

A fibula fracture is the medical name for breaking your calf bone. The fibula is one of two bones in your lower leg, along with your shin bone (tibia).

Fibula fractures usually happen along with other broken bones in your leg or ankle. They usually happen from a serious fall or car accident.

You might be able to put weight on your injured leg if you have a broken fibula. That’s because it doesn’t support your weight like your shin bone. But don’t force yourself to use or move your leg. Fibula breaks need diagnosis and treatment right away. Go to the emergency room if you think you might have any type of broken leg.

Fibula fracture symptoms

Symptoms of a broken fibula can include:

• Pain
• Tenderness
• Swelling
• Skin discoloration or bruising
• A bump or deformity that’s not usually on your calf or lower leg
• Being unable to move your leg

Fibula fracture causes

Traumas almost always cause fibula breaks, including

• Falling from a high place (like off a ladder or roof)
• Car accidents
• Sports injuries

How doctors diagnose a broken fibula

A healthcare provider will diagnose a fibula fracture with imaging tests and a physical exam. This might be done in the emergency room. If you’re taken to the ER, a team of providers will stabilize you and treat your injuries. They’ll treat any life-threatening injuries before diagnosing the broken fibula.

Your provider will take pictures of your leg using a few tests. These will confirm that your fibula is broken. They’ll also let your provider check for other injuries. You may need:

• X-ray
• CT scan
• MRI

Types of fibula fractures

Healthcare providers classify broken calf bones in a few ways. They classify some fractures by the shape or pattern of the break line:

• Oblique fracture (the fracture is an angled line)
• Transverse fracture (the break is a straight line)
• Spiral fracture (the fracture twists around your bone)
• Comminuted fracture (your bone is broken in two or more places)
• Segmental fracture (your bone breaks in at least two places, and a piece of bone is separated by the fractures)

Providers classify some fractures by how they happen:

• Avulsion fracture (a piece of bone attached to a ligament or tendon, or gets pulled loose)
• Compound fracture (open fracture) (pieces of broken bone poke through your skin)
• Stress (hairline) fracture (a small crack in your bone)

Your provider might describe the fracture with some other terms, including:

• Distal fibula fractures: If you have a distal fibula fracture, your calf bone is broken closer to your ankle.
• Proximal fibula fractures: If you have a proximal fibula fracture, your calf bone is broken closer to your knee.
• Non-displaced fibula fractures: A non-displaced fracture happens when the pieces of your broken bone don’t move out of alignment.
• Displaced fibula fractures: If you have a displaced fracture, the pieces of your bone moved enough to form a gap around them.

Fibula fracture treatment

A healthcare provider will recommend treatments make sure your calf bone heals back into one piece correctly. Broken fibula treatments include:

• Immobilization: You’ll probably only need a splint or cast. You may be able to wear a walking boot. Your provider will tell you if it’s safe for you to put weight on your leg while your fibula heals. You’ll need follow-up X-rays to make sure your bone is healing properly.
• Closed reduction: This is for less severe fractures that don’t need surgery. Your provider will set (realign) your bone by pushing and pulling the pieces into place from outside your body.
• Internal fixation: A surgeon will realign the pieces of your bone to their correct positions. Then, they’ll secure the pieces in place and put your leg in a cast.
• Physical therapy: You may need to work with a physical therapist to regain your strength, flexibility and mobility.

How long does it take to recover from a broken fibula?

Most fibula fractures heal completely in six to eight weeks. There are lots of factors that can affect your recovery time. More severe fractures can take longer. Talk to your provider or surgeon about a timeline that fits your specific situation.

When should I seek care?

See a healthcare provider right away if you think you have a broken bone in your leg. Go to the emergency room if you experience any of the following:

• You have severe pain.
• You can see your bone through your skin.
• Your leg is out of its usual place or looks noticeably different.
• You can’t move your leg like usual.
• You have new bruising or swelling that happens along with any of these other symptoms.

What can I expect if I have a broken fibula?

Fibula fractures don’t usually cause any long-term complications. You should be able to resume all your usual activities once your bone heals. Your healthcare provider will tell you how to manage pain during your recovery.

Fibula breaks usually heal faster than other leg fractures. That’s because your fibula doesn’t support your weight when you stand and move.