Depending on the type of fracture sustained to the fibula bone, treatment varies considerably and can include wearing a high-top tennis shoe or a short leg cast, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. The fibula, a bone of the lower leg, can become fractured as a result of high-speed impact, twisting or rolling the ankle, or tripping and falling.
For a stable fibula fracture, or one where the bone is not out of place, the treatment is nonsurgical and can include wearing a cast, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. In the case of an unstable fibulae fracture, where the bone is out of place or broken in several places, bone fragments are repositioned using surgery. Screws and rods are typically employed to hold the bones in place during healing.
A severe ankle sprain feels very similar to a fracture, making it important to have any ankle injury evaluated by a doctor, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Common symptoms of ankle fracture include pain, swelling, bruising, tenderness, an inability to bear weight on the affected foot and, in severe cases, deformity. Doctors diagnose a break to the fibula using a physical examination, X-rays, a CT scan or an MRI.
