how long is leg supposed to heal if you have eight tib/fib fractures?

Question

I was hit by a car two months ago and got the cast only a month after the accident because it wasnt stable (besides i have a rod and 5 screws in there now). Went to see surgeon a couple of days ago and he said it was ok, but i didnt see absolutely no changes in x-rays. (two biggest brakes have about 5mm space between parts of the bone).
Are those spaces supposed to be there that big at all?
And according to my surgeon i am gona have the cast on for 3-4 months total. There is no muscle already after just a month. What is gona be there in 2-3 more?

Answer 1

for the leg bones, it takes at least 6 months before they heal from fractures.and yes, those big spaces will heal soon enough.
the most important thing for you to have right now is a physical therapy program so that your muscles wont severely atrophy.also,cast care is important so that you wont develop pressure ulcers from wearing it.
good luck!

Answer 2

I'm sorry you're injured, it sounds nasty. My boyfriend broke his tibia in November and he's just got the all clear now - but he didn't have surgery, so I'd imagine it could take longer. I think the estimation for healing is 6 months to heal, but after 3, my boyfriend's leg has already formed a callous where the break was - you will see an improvement over time, especially when you compare your first x ray with your latest. Human bones are pretty good at healing themselves, make sure you drink plenty of milk and try vitamin supplements - I think Vitamin E promotes healthy bones.

Anyway my boyfriend lost all his muscle in about a week, it was really significant, you could see it even when he wore baggy pants. It is inevitable that your muscles will diminish - but, one of the nurses who put the cast on said that muscles begin to atrophy after just 48 hours following an injury. Chances are your muscle wastage is the worst it's going to get because it disappears so quickly. Therefore, like the other answer says, ask your doctor about some physio that you can do, which won't strain your leg at all, but work your quads so that when you get back to walking, your leg will be strong enough to take it.

Answer 3

It will take quite awhile for it to heal. It depends on the type of fracture it is. Chances are you will be in a cast for awhile. And the loss of muscle is called atrophy. This happens when the muscle is not being used. You shouldn't lose much more of it, and when you get back to using that leg, you will regain muscle.