Will a comminuted fracture of the tibia cause limping?

Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
Updated on September 27, 2024
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If a comminuted tibial fracture is treated correctly, with proper alignment and the shortening kept within one centimeter, limping will absolutely not occur. The reason for limping after surgery for a comminuted fracture is due to unequal leg lengths. There are many reasons for differences in leg length, but no matter the cause, if the difference is less than 1 centimeter, a person will absolutely not limp. However, if it is less than two centimeters, or more, it then becomes apparent that one leg is longer and the other shorter, resulting in a limp. Therefore, for comminuted fractures, whether it is of the tibia, femur, or another bone, as long as the alignment is properly maintained and the shortening is controlled to within 1 centimeter, postoperative recovery will be very good, without any limping.

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Written by Lv Yao
Orthopedics
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Is a comminuted fracture of the tibia serious?

A comminuted fracture of the tibia is defined as a fracture where there are three or more fracture fragments, termed a comminuted fracture. The severity of a comminuted fracture of the tibia depends on the location of the fracture. If the fracture is located at the epiphyseal end, where there is abundant blood supply, healing may occur more quickly. However, if the fracture is accompanied by surrounding soft tissue injuries, the healing process can be very slow. If the fracture occurs in the middle to distal third of the bone, where the blood supply is more limited, healing can be slower compared to simple transverse fractures, and the prognosis may vary depending on the choice of treatment method.

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Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
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How long after a patellar comminuted fracture can one start walking?

Patellar comminuted fractures generally require surgical treatment. If the surgery goes well, patients can start moving around with the aid of crutches one week after the surgery. Initially, changing positions is not allowed. Generally, patients can start by placing the toes on the ground two weeks post-surgery, followed by the middle part of the foot, and finally the heel. This progression occurs from two to six weeks after the surgery.

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Written by Wang Cheng Lin
Orthopedics
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How long does it take to recover after surgery for a comminuted fracture of the humerus?

Generally speaking, the recovery time after surgery for a comminuted fracture of the humerus is about three months, but this can vary from person to person. If the patient is young, the healing of the fracture ends might be quicker, potentially achieving bony union within two to three months. However, if the patient is elderly, their healing might be slower, possibly requiring three to four months to achieve bony union. Therefore, it is necessary for patients with fractures to regularly take X-rays to observe whether the fracture ends have achieved bony union. Typically, they should visit the hospital to get an X-ray about every two weeks to check on the growth of the fracture ends.

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Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
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Will a comminuted patella fracture cause limping?

Patellar comminuted fractures, as long as treated promptly and correctly, and if the surgery poses no issues, generally heal in about six months, thereby not causing any significant impact. Thus, there's no need to worry about limping. Limping usually means that when walking, one leg appears longer than the other. Under what circumstances can limping occur? If the difference in leg length is within one centimeter, it's imperceptible and won't have any effect. If the difference exceeds two centimeters, then there is a noticeable tilt in the lower limbs, and only then can limping be observed during walking; however, even if limping occurs, it is not severe. It just means that while walking, there is a tilt towards the shorter side. After treatment, patellar comminuted fractures have a complete chance of healing and once healed properly, it's almost like before the injury. Even in severe cases where the fracture is critically fragmented and requires removal, even without patellar replacement, by reinforcing the patellar tendon, it typically does not result in limping. It only impacts the strength in knee extension, possibly creating a mild impediment compared to the other side, and might make walking appear slightly abnormal, but it definitely does not lead to limping. Hence, patellar comminuted fractures do not result in limping.

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Written by Lv Yao
Orthopedics
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Post-traumatic sequelae of femoral head comminuted fracture

A comminuted fracture generally refers to a fracture with more than three fragments. When a comminuted fracture occurs in the femoral head, it is also a type of intra-articular comminuted fracture. Generally speaking, after the fracture is reduced and stabilized, there can be some damage to the joint surface as well, leading to unevenness of the joint surface and a higher chance of developing postoperative traumatic arthritis. There is also a possibility that the comminution of the femoral head fracture could affect the blood supply to the femoral head, leading to ischemic necrosis of the femoral head. After treatment for the fracture injury, there will inevitably be some impact on postoperative function. Therefore, after a comminuted fracture of the femoral head, the first sequelae to appear is usually traumatic arthritis, followed by ischemic necrosis of the femoral head, and thirdly, symptoms of restricted movement in the hip joint may occur.