Fractures of the shaft of the tibia are due to direct trauma. This particular fracture is spiral in nature. More comminuted fractures of the proximal tibia may compromise blood supply of the popliteal artery, and angiography may be considered.

A	AP radiograph of the tibia and fibula. There is a spiral fracture of the tibia.
B	Lateral radiograph of the tibia and fibula. This demonstrates a spiral fracture of the tibia.

Links to online textbooks:

• Wheeless' Orthopedics: references for tibial shaft fractures

Links to online cases:

• Akhtar Khan
• Association for Study of Internal Fixation

References:

• Tervonen O, Junila J, Ojala R: MR imaging in tibial shaft fractures. A potential method for early visualization of delayed union Acta Radiol. 1999 Jul;40(4):410-4.           [See related articles]
• Burkhalter WE, Protzman R: The tibial shaft fracture J Trauma. 1975 Sep;15(9):785-94.           [See related articles]
• Cimino WG, Corbett ML, Leach RE: The role of closed reduction in tibial shaft fractures Orthop Rev. 1990 Mar;19(3):233-40.           [See related articles]