Broken Leg (Leg Fracture)

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.