Dr. Timothy K. Durnin - 8/20/2007

Question
we talked a couple of weeks ago. just a recap in case you need it. i broke my tib/fib 3mos ago. 2 metal plates 12 screws. i am 55yr female in good health. i have been putting about 25% wt bearing on it. i went to see my doctor today and he said it is not healing like it should. he is ordering me a bone stimulator to use for the next month and then i go back to see him. he told me to only put as much weight as i could tolerate and if it hurt to stop. what is a bone stimulator and what will it do for me. he has no idea when i can go back to work. i hope your leg is doing better. thanks

Answer
Hi Deb,

Since the Tib has poor blood supply, I got both an ultrasound and electrical stimulator. I also took a ton of glucosamine sulfate, my Ortho couldn't belive how it turned out. Get on that right away, tibial fractures are nasty, I know all to well first hand what it takes to bounce back from such a devastating injury. I had the ilizerof fixator with k wire then half pins. You have the plates, either way, get the bone stims, both of them and pray you won't need grafting. I also got an oxygen generator to help speed healing, it still took a year but everything is 90% now. Keep me informed. My brother in Ca just started walking, he also snapped his Tib/fib in half. The stim worked good on him too.

Good Luck!

Dr. Tim