Zak Zinter injury updates: how long does it take to recover from a broken tibia and fibula?

Zak Zinter, a Michigan offensive lineman, sustained tibia and fibula fractures during the second half of their game against Ohio State on Saturday. Following the injury, Zinter was taken off the field on a cart while the entire Michigan team gathered on the sidelines to show their support.

The crowd chimed, “Let’s Go, Zak” as he was being taken off. A few moments later, Blake Corum scored a 22-yard touchdown and made a gesture with his hands, showing the numbers “6″ and “5″ in honor of Zinter, who wears jersey number 65.

Later that night, Zinter confirmed on social media that he had undergone successful surgery. He thanked his team for supporting him throughout the ordeal and securing a win against Ohio State.

“Surgery went great, Love TEAM 144!! Thanks for having my back, boys, and finishing strong! I’ll be back better than ever. See you in Indy!”

Zinter’s mother, Tiffany Zinter, posted on Facebook and Instagram earlier, confirming that Zinter had broken his tibia and fibula during Michigan’s 30-24 win over Ohio State.

In her post, she mentioned that the Michigan players had FaceTimed Zinter while he was in the ER.

“This is a TEAM and a brotherhood! They FaceTimed him from the locker room while he was in the ER; true brothers!!!”

Time to recover from a broken tibia and fibula?

Fractures of the tibia and fibula refer to breaking two bones in the lower leg. The tibia, also known as the shin bone, and the fibula, also known as the calf bone, are situated in the lower leg.

These fractures are usually caused by significant trauma like car accidents or falls, which can result in the breaking of both bones at the same time. However, it is also possible to fracture only one of the bones without breaking the other.

Surgery is typically required to repair the bones, and physical therapy is necessary to restore the leg’s ability. Falls, car accidents, and sports injuries commonly cause fractured tibias and fibulas. The recovery time for these fractures varies, depending on the fracture type and any other injuries sustained, but typically takes a few months.