Broken Leg

A broken leg, also called a leg fracture, is a crack or break in one of the bones in your leg. This can happen in various ways, such as from a fall, a car accident, or an injury during sports.

How a broken leg is treated depends on where the break is and how bad it is. A serious break, where the bone is shattered, might need metal rods or plates to hold the pieces in place while they heal. Less serious breaks often heal with a cast or a splint. No matter how bad the break, getting a quick diagnosis and treatment is very important for a full recovery.

The thighbone (femur) is the strongest bone in your body. It takes a lot of force to break it, so a broken thighbone is usually easy to spot. However, a break in the shinbone (tibia) or the smaller bone next to it (fibula) might not be as noticeable.

Signs of a broken leg can include:

• Sharp pain: The pain might get worse when you try to move the leg.
• Swelling: The area around the break will likely swell up.
• Tenderness: Touching the injured area will be painful.
• Bruising: A black and blue mark might appear.
• Visible change in shape: The leg might look shorter or crooked.
• Inability to walk: You won't be able to put weight on the leg.

Babies and young children might show a broken leg by limping or refusing to walk, even if they can't tell you what hurts.

If you or your child has any of these symptoms, get medical help right away. A delay in getting treatment can make the healing process harder and lead to problems later.

It's critical to seek immediate medical attention for any broken leg resulting from a serious accident, such as a car crash or a motorcycle accident. Broken thighbones are very serious injuries, potentially life-threatening. Emergency medical services are needed to stabilize the injury, prevent further damage, and safely transport you to a hospital.

If you or your child notice any signs that a leg might be broken, get medical help immediately. A broken leg that's not treated right away can lead to slower healing and other problems later on.

If a leg break happens because of a serious accident, like a car crash or motorcycle accident, call emergency services right away. A broken thighbone is a very serious injury. It could be life-threatening. Emergency medical personnel are trained to protect the injured area and safely transport the person to a hospital.

Broken legs can happen in several ways:

• Falls: A simple fall can break one or both bones in your lower leg. You usually need a much harder fall to break your thighbone. This could be a slip on ice, a trip on a rug, or a fall from a height.

• Car accidents: A car crash can break all three bones in your leg. This often happens when your knee hits the dashboard, or your leg gets hit by something inside the car.

• Sports injuries: In sports, stretching your leg too far, especially during contact, can cause a break. This could be from a fall, a direct hit (like from a hockey stick or another player), or an awkward landing.

• Abuse: A broken leg in a child, especially before they can walk, can sometimes be a sign of abuse. This is a serious concern and needs to be reported to the authorities if suspected.

• Overuse: Tiny cracks, called stress fractures, can develop in bones that bear a lot of weight, like the shinbone. These fractures are usually caused by doing the same activity repeatedly, like running long distances. They can also happen if you use a bone that's already weak because of a medical condition like osteoporosis. Overuse injuries can happen to anyone, from athletes to people with less active lifestyles.

Leg stress fractures happen when bones in the leg get repeatedly stressed from activities like running, ballet, basketball, or marching. These activities put a lot of force on the bones over time. Similar issues can arise in contact sports like hockey and football, where direct impacts to the legs can cause fractures.

Sometimes, stress fractures aren't related to sports. People who have weaker bones (like those with osteoporosis), diabetes, or rheumatoid arthritis are more likely to get these types of fractures. These conditions can make bones more fragile and susceptible to damage. This isn't just about sports injuries; everyday activities can also put stress on bones, and these underlying conditions can make people more prone to fractures.

Broken leg injuries can sometimes lead to problems beyond the initial break. Here are some possible complications:

• Pain in the knee or ankle: A broken leg can cause pain in the knee or ankle, even if the break is elsewhere in the leg. This is because the leg's bones are connected, and the injury can affect the nerves and soft tissues around the area.

• Bone infection: If the broken bone breaks the skin (an "open fracture"), it can expose the bone to germs. This can lead to a bone infection called osteomyelitis. Essentially, bacteria can get into the bone, causing inflammation and potentially serious complications.

• Slow or incomplete healing: Sometimes, a severe break doesn't heal as quickly or completely as expected. This is more likely with open fractures, especially in the shinbone (tibia), because the tibia has a lower blood supply, making it harder for the body to deliver the necessary nutrients for healing.

• Damage to nerves or blood vessels: Broken legs can injure nearby nerves and blood vessels. If you notice any numbness, a change in skin color (like pale skin), or problems with circulation (like decreased warmth or pulse in the affected area) in the leg, seek immediate medical attention. These signs could indicate nerve or blood vessel damage.

• Compartment syndrome: In rare cases, a broken bone can cause swelling and pressure in the muscles around it. This is known as compartment syndrome. Symptoms include pain, swelling, and sometimes difficulty using the affected limb. This is more common with serious injuries, like car accidents.

• Joint problems (arthritis): If a broken bone damages a joint or the bone isn't properly aligned during healing, it can lead to arthritis later on. This means the joint might become painful and stiff over time. If your leg hurts long after the initial injury, see a doctor for evaluation.

• Unequal leg length (in children): Children's long bones grow from the ends of the bones, in areas called growth plates. If a fracture goes through a growth plate, the affected leg may grow at a different rate than the other leg. This can result in one leg being longer or shorter than the other. This is particularly important in children.

Preventing broken legs isn't always possible, but there are things you can do to lower your chances.

Strengthen Your Bones:

Eating foods rich in calcium, like milk, yogurt, and cheese, helps build strong bones. A vitamin D supplement might also be helpful. However, it's important to talk to your doctor before taking any supplements to make sure they are right for you. A healthy diet overall, including calcium-rich foods, is important for strong bones. Getting enough calcium and vitamin D throughout your life is key to maintaining strong bones.

Wear the Right Shoes:

Choosing the right athletic shoes for your activities is crucial. Make sure the shoes fit your sport or activity. You should also replace your athletic shoes regularly. Don't wait until they look worn out; replace them when the tread on the soles is worn down, the heels are worn, or the shoes show uneven wear. This will help ensure your feet and ankles get the support they need during exercise or sports.

Vary Your Exercise Routine:

Doing different types of exercise can help prevent stress fractures. For example, if you run, mix it up with swimming or biking. If you run on a slanted indoor track, run in both directions to distribute the stress on your body more evenly. This helps to prevent overuse injuries in your legs and feet. Changing up your routine keeps your muscles and bones from getting too used to the same movements, reducing the risk of injuries.

To diagnose a possible broken bone, your doctor will first examine the injured area. They will look for signs like pain when touched (tenderness), swelling, unusual shapes (deformities), or a cut or open wound.

X-rays are often the first imaging test used. They help show exactly where the break is and how much damage there is to nearby joints. Sometimes, more detailed pictures are needed. For example, if a doctor suspects a stress fracture (a tiny crack in a bone), X-rays might not show it clearly. In these cases, a CT scan (computed tomography) or an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) might be needed to get a better view of the affected area.