Which of the following is a common complication of tibial fractures?

• A. Anterior cruciate ligament tear
• B. Peroneal nerve injury
• C. Compartment syndrome
• D. Ligamentous injury

Answer: (C)

Swelling and bleeding inside the leg after a tibial fracture can raise the pressure within the tight muscular compartments of the leg. Because these compartments have limited ability to expand, even moderate edema can quickly compromise blood flow and nerve function. This makes compartment syndrome a common and dangerous complication of tibial injuries. Early signs are disproportionate pain, especially with passive stretching of the muscles in the leg, and often numbness or tingling as nerves are affected; the leg may feel tense or appear swollen. If pressure isn’t relieved promptly, muscle in the affected compartments can die, nerves can be damaged, and kidney problems from muscle breakdown can occur. The treatment is urgent fasciotomy to release the pressure; delays can lead to irreversible damage. Other possibilities like an ACL tear or peroneal nerve injury or generic ligament injuries can occur with knee trauma, but they are not the classic direct complication of a tibial fracture in the same way compartment syndrome is.