The tibia is the main long bone of the lower leg.

The tibia is about 14 inches long on average.

Tibial malformations are noticeable defects of the lower limb that may come in several varieties.

In an otherwise healthy individual, fractures of the tibia are the most common injury affecting this bone.

Anatomy

There are two bones in the lower leg, below the knee.

The larger of the two bones is the tibia.

It is the shinbone and bears the majority of weight between the knee and the ankle.

Long bones are found on the upper and lower limbs, fingers, and toes.

Thelateral condyleis above the head of the fibulawith themedial condylelocated on the opposite side.

The three bones make up the largest part of the ankle.

The medial portion of the tibia is called themedial malleolus.

Function

All long bones are limb bones that assist with weight-bearing and movement.

As a person ages, red bone marrow is replaced with yellow bone marrow made up of mostly fat.

The tibia provides stability and bears weight for the lower leg.

Associated Conditions

There are many conditions that can affect the tibia.

Tibia Fracture

The most common injury associated with the tibia is a broken bone.

Astress fracture of the tibiais a common injury in runners, gymnasts, and other high-impact athletes.

A stress fracture comes from overuse or overtraining and can lead to pain and swelling of the lower leg.

As with all broken bones, the most common symptom of tibia fractures is pain.

There could also be swelling, bruising, or deformity.

Can you walk on a broken tibia?

Some fractures can still bear weight.

It is one of the most common causes of pain in athletes, especially long distance runners.

Healthcare providers only have theories to explain the causes and treatments of shin splints.

What works for some does not always work for others.

Many runners believe that the only real cure for shin splints is the prevention of shin splints.

In osteoporosis, bones become more brittle as they lose minerals.

Osteoporosis is more common in women than in men.

Like osteoporosis, Paget’s disease of bone can lead to an increased possibility of fractures.

Internal tibial torsion is a congenital condition that causes a rotation of the tibia toward the medial aspect.

Basically, the tibias rotate inward so that the toes point toward each other.

This is often referred to as beingpigeon-toed.

Tibial torsion is a benign condition that usually corrects itself in the first four years of life.

Braces and other corrective devices are usually not necessary.

Once the tibia breaks, it is extremely difficult to treat the pseudarthrosis and heal the fracture.

The tibia could also be malformed or missing.

In some cases of tibial hemimelia, only the distal or proximal end of the tibia is present.

The fibula could be larger to compensate and a duplicate fibula might even be present.

In many cases, the most appropriate treatment is for amputation and replacement with a prosthesis.

Tibial fracture treatment is based on the severity and cause of the fracture.

Simple fractures of the tibial plateau may heal without surgical intervention.

Its proximal end helps form the knee joint and its distal end helps form the ankle joint.

The tibia’s main function is to provide stability and bear weight for the lower leg.

Common conditions that affect the tibia include fracture, shin splints, and osteoporosis.

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