What is a broken leg?
A broken leg, or fracture, is a break or crack in one of the
leg bones. In general there are two main types of
fractures: open or closed. An open, or compound, fracture
means that an end of the bone has broken through the skin.
A closed fracture has not broken the skin. The type of
break often depends on the cause.
The break could be a simple break straight across the bone
or it could be one of many other specific types of
fractures. Some common fracture types in legs include:
- Transverse fracture: The bone is broken at an angle.
- Impacted fracture: The ends of two bones collide and
break.
- Stress fracture: A hairline crack in the bone caused by
stress or overuse.
- Avulsion fracture: Part of a muscle pulls away from the
bone and breaks part of the bone off.
- Comminuted fracture: There are several bone fragments in
the break.
- Greenstick fracture: The bone bends and breaks just on
one side.
How does it occur?
Leg fractures can occur in many ways such as falls, direct
blows, and overuse. Sometimes diseases or problems such as
osteoporosis can cause bones to become weak and break more
easily.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms of a leg fracture include:
- pain
- tenderness
- swelling
- limited range of motion
- pain made worse by movement
- grating of bone ends
- muscle spasm during slight movement
- inability to walk
- deformed looking leg.
How is it diagnosed?
To diagnose a broken bone, your health care provider will
review your injury and symptoms and probably take x-rays of
your leg. Your provider will check your foot to see if
vessels or nerves are damaged. He or she may also examine
your knee to check if you also have a knee injury.
How is it treated?
Your provider will need to set the bones back into the
proper position. Sometimes this requires surgery. Your leg
may need to be set in a splint or cast to keep it from
moving.
If there is an open wound over the site of the leg fracture,
you may need surgery. The provider will cleanse the wound and
cover it with a sterile dressing. You may need to have a
tetanus shot and need to take antibiotics for several
days.
You may need to use crutches or a cane for awhile. Your
provider will tell you when you should start putting full
weight on your leg again.
Because you will not be moving your leg for awhile, it can
cause the joints to stiffen and muscles to weaken, even in
some uninjured areas of your body. Part of your treatment
will be doing simple range-of-motion exercises to keep the
uninjured parts of your body healthy. You will also learn
isometric exercises to strengthen the injured part. Isometric
exercises are done without moving any joints. You create
tension by contracting the muscle, holding the tension, and
then releasing it without moving the joint.
How long will the effects last?
The time needed to heal depends on the kind of fracture,
its location, the type of treatment, and how well you heal.
How can I take care of myself?
To help take care of yourself, follow the full course of
treatment your provider prescribes. Also, follow these
guidelines:
- Get plenty of rest.
- Elevate the leg when possible to reduce swelling.
Call immediately if you have any of these symptoms:
- unusual warmth, redness, or swelling above or below the
fracture
- your toenails or feet become and stay blue or grey even
though you are keeping your leg elevated
- numbness or complete loss of feeling in the skin below
the fracture
- increasing pain not relieved by pain pills.
These symptoms may mean there is damage to the nerves and
blood vessels.
What can be done to help prevent leg fracture?
Often a broken leg occurs from an accident that cannot be
prevented. However, you can help prevent leg injuries by:
- Wearing the proper, correctly fitting shoes when you
exercise.
- Gently stretching before and after physical activities such
as aerobics, running, and sports.
- Working and playing safely.
Make sure you always call your health care provider if you
usually develop leg pain during or after physical activity.
This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to
change as new health information becomes available. The
information is intended to inform and educate and is not a
replacement for medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or
treatment by a healthcare professional.
Copyright © 2005 McKesson Corporation and/or one of its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved.