The fragments seen through the shadow of the tibia lie nearer the plate than the smaller fragments on the fibula. As the largest fragment, lying below, shows a much enlarged semicircular outline, its position is not close to the plate and it must lie superficially on the inner side of the leg.
Plate 143.
Shrapnel—Plate 143.
LOWER EXTREMITY.
Gunshot Fracture of the Right Fibula.
This plate shows the right leg, because the calf always rests on the plate in the absence of a contraindication, which does not occur in this case, and because the slight angle of approach of the tibia and fibula identifies the relation of the lower end of these bones.
The nature of the fracture, without much fragmentation and with no displacements of fragments, indicates a slight striking energy of the missile, which was disintegrated by ricochet before striking the bone.
The fragments of a shrapnel ball, spattered on a near-by object, struck the leg in front over a wide area, as indicated by the fragments lying over the tibia and smaller ones lying on the inside of the bone. The larger metal fragment, on the fibula, is some distance from the plate, and probably lies in front of the bone, while the smaller ones, seen in sharper outline, lie behind.
Plate 144.