Tibia Fractures and Why They're So Gruesome!

This is the fracture that I hate the most - I'm a seasoned orthopaedic surgeon and even I can't watch these injuries. You’ve seen it before—a brutal sports injury that makes you wince and all the players look away. The leg bends in a way it shouldn’t, and chances are, that was a tibia fracture.

So why do these injuries look so gruesome?

The tibia, or shinbone, is the weight-bearing powerhouse of your lower leg. It’s thick, strong—and when it breaks, it really breaks. Think high-impact trauma: skiing accidents, car crashes, awkward twisting landings in basketball, or even slipping on ice. These fractures are often dramatic because they involve high energy, twisting forces, or both.

In this video, I walk you through:

• What happens during a tibia fracture

• Why it’s more than just a “broken leg”

• What surgery and recovery typically involve