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Jan 23, 2024 · A broken leg is a fracture in any of the three bones in your leg. Providers sometimes call it a fractured leg. Your leg bones are strong, so it usually takes severe trauma to break them. You may need surgery and will need to wear a cast while your leg heals. It usually takes at least a few months for broken legs to heal.
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female broken leg cast photos long leg cast broken leg cast full leg cast broken leg cast crutches leg cast videos leg cast pictures A broken leg is a fracture, or break, of any of the four bones in the leg. Learn about symptoms, causes, diagnoses, home care, treatment, surgery, and recovery time.
- Overview
- Symptoms of a broken leg
- Causes of a broken leg
- Types of broken bones
- Treatments for a broken leg
- Complications of a broken leg
- What to expect during recovery from a broken leg
- Takeaway
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Overview
A broken leg is a break or crack in one of the bones in your leg. It’s also referred to as a leg fracture.
A fracture may occur in the:
•Femur. The femur is the bone above your knee. It’s also called the thigh bone.
•Tibia. Also called the shin bone, the tibia is the larger of the two bones below your knee.
•Fibula. The fibula is the smaller of the two bones below your knee. It’s also called the calf bone.
Because it takes so much force to break it, a femur fracture is usually obvious. Fractures to the other two bones in your leg can be less obvious. Symptoms of breaks in all three might include:
•severe pain
•pain increases with movement
•swelling
•bruising
•leg appears deformed
The three most common causes of a broken leg are:
1.Trauma. A leg break could be the result of a fall, a vehicle accident, or an impact while playing sports.
2.Overuse. Repetitive force or overuse can result in stress fractures.
3.Osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a condition in which the body is losing too much bone or making too little bone. This results in weak bones that are more likely to break.
The type and severity of a bone fracture depends on the amount of force that caused the damage.
A lesser force that just exceeds the bone’s breaking point may just crack the bone. An extreme force may shatter the bone.
Common types of broken bones include:
•Transverse fracture. The bone breaks in a straight horizontal line.
•Oblique fracture. The bone breaks in an angled line.
•Spiral fracture. The bone breaks a line encircling the bone, like the stripes on a barber pole. It’s usually caused by a twisting force.
How your doctor treats your broken leg depends on the location and type of fracture. Part of your doctor’s diagnosis is determining which classification the fracture falls into. These include:
•Open (compound) fracture. The skin is pierced by the broken bone, or bone emerges through a wound.
•Closed fracture. The surrounding skin isn’t broken.
•Incomplete fracture. The bone is cracked, but not separated into two parts.
•Complete fracture. The bone is broken into two or more parts.
•Displaced fracture. The bone fragments on each side of the break aren’t aligned.
There are complications that may arise during and after the healing process for your broken leg. These may include:
•osteomyelitis (bone infection)
•nerve damage from the bone breaking and injuring nearby nerves
•muscle damage from the bone breaking near adjacent muscles
•joint pain
•development of osteoarthritis years later from poor bone alignment during the healing process
It could take several weeks to several months for your broken leg to heal. Your recovery time will depend on the severity of the injury and how you follow your doctor’s directions.
If you have a splint or cast, your doctor might recommend you use crutches or a cane to keep weight off the affected leg for six to eight weeks or longer.
If you have an external fixation device, your doctor will most likely remove it after about six to eight weeks.
During this recovery period, the chances are good that your pain will stop well before the fracture is solid enough to handle normal activity.
After your cast, brace, or other immobilization device is removed, your doctor may suggest you continue to limit movement until the bone is solid enough for you to return to your typical activity level.
If your doctor recommends physical therapy and exercise, it may take several months or even longer to complete the healing of a severe leg break.
If you think or know you’ve broken your leg, seek immediate medical attention.
Breaking a leg and your recovery time will have a major impact on your mobility and lifestyle. When treated promptly and properly, however, it’s common to regain normal function.
Learn about the causes, types, and complications of a broken leg, and how it's treated with splints, casts, or surgery. See pictures of different fractures and their healing process.
- Scott Frothingham
Casts and splints hold broken bones in place while they heal. This article explains what to expect while you are wearing your cast or splint and includes advice on how to take care of it until it is time to have it removed.
Jan 26, 2019 · There are two main types of cast, known as plaster casts and synthetic casts. We’ll go over the pros and cons of both types and explain where splints come into the picture.
Your provider will custom-fit a cast to the part of your body that has a broken bone, including your: Arm or elbow. Wrist and hand. Leg or knee. Ankle. Foot. Types of casts. There are two types of casts — fiberglass and plaster. Fiberglass casts are more common. Fiberglass is lighter and more durable than plaster.
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