A Leg Fracture is a Break in One or More of the Bones in Your Leg

8/6/2019 A Leg Fracture is a Break in One or More of the Bones in Your Leg

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A leg fracture is a break in one or more of the bones in your leg. There are three long bones inyour legs. The femur is the largest bone and goes from your hip to your knee. The fibula and

tibia are the two bones in your lower leg that go from your knee to your ankle. When you have aleg fracture, you may not be able to move like you normally do. Having your leg fracture treated

may decrease your symptoms such as pain. Treatment may allow you to return to the activities

you enjoy, such as sports.

What causes a leg fracture?

Femur fractures are more common in men between the ages of 15 to 50. Females older then 50with osteoporosis (brittle bones) are at an increased risk for leg fractures. The following are themost common causes of leg fractures:

y Accidents: Car and sports accidents are common causes of leg fractures. Being hit in theleg by a sharp object may also lead to a fracture.

y Fall: Falling from an area off the ground, such as when on a ladder, may cause a legfracture. Falling from a standing position may also cause a leg fracture if your bones areweak.

y Stress: Stress fractures occur when the muscles attached to bone become tired from usingthem too much. Muscle stress leading to a leg fracture is common in runners, and those

sports that include jumping and leaping.

What are the different types of leg fractures?

y Non-displaced: A fracture is non-displaced when the bone cracks or breaks but stays inplace.


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y Displaced: A fracture is displaced when the two ends of the broken bone are no longerattached.

y Open fracture: An open fracture occurs when the broken bone breaks through your skin.

What are the signs and symptoms of a leg fracture?You may have any of the following:

y Decreased leg movement, or an inability to move your injured leg.y Deformity (your leg is shaped different then normal).y Hip, thigh, and groin pain that worsens when you stand on your injured leg. The groin is

the area where your hips and upper legs meet.

y Pain that worsens when you move your leg.

y Skin bruising or blistering in the area of your leg injury.y Swelling of your injured leg.y Tenderness (pain when touched) over the injured area.y Weakness or numbness (loss of feeling) in your leg.

How is a leg fracture diagnosed?

Your caregiver will check the skin over your injured leg for any open breaks in the skin. He maytouch areas of your leg to see if you have decreased feeling. He also may check for any problems

with your leg movements. You may need any of the following:

y X-ray: An x-ray is a picture done to check your leg for broken bones.y Bone scan: This is a test done to look at your leg bones. You are given a small, safe

amount of radioactive dye in an IV. An IV is a tube placed in your vein for giving

medicine or liquids. Pictures are then taken of your leg bones to look for fractures.

y Computed tomography scan: This is also called a CT scan. A CT scan is an x-ray thatuses computers to take pictures of your leg. Your caregiver may use this test to look forbroken bones and other leg injuries. You may be given a dye before the pictures are taken

to help caregivers see the pictures better. People who are allergic to shellfish (lobster,crab, or shrimp) may be allergic to this dye. Tell your caregiver if you are allergic to

shellfish or have other allergies.

y Magnetic resonance imaging scan: This test is also called an MRI. During an MRI,magnetic waves are used to take pictures of the bones, and other tissues in your leg. You


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will need to lie still during an MRI. Never enter the MRI room with any metal objects.This can cause serious injury.

How is a leg fracture treated?

Treatment depends on what kind of fracture you have, and how bad it is. You may need any ofthe following:

y Brace, cast, or splint: A brace, cast, or splint may be put on your leg to decrease yourleg movement. Braces, casts, and splints work to hold the broken bones in place. Thesedevices may help decrease pain, and prevent further damage to your broken bones.

y Medicine: Medicines may be given to help decrease or take away your pain. You mayneed antibiotic medicine to prevent or treat an infection by germs called bacteria. Blood

thinners also may be given to decrease your risk for blood clots.

y Physical therapy: Your caregiver may have you to go to physical therapy. A physicaltherapist will help you with exercises to improve the movement of your leg. Theexercises can also help make your leg bones and muscles stronger.

y Surgery: If you have an open fracture, you may need debridement before your surgery.Debridement is when your caregiver removes damaged and infected tissue, and cleans

your wound. Debridement is done to help prevent infection and improve healing. Surgeryto fix your broken leg may include the following:

o External fixation:During external fixation, screws may be put through your skinand into your broken bones. The screws will be secured to a device outside of

your leg. External fixation will allow your bones to be held together so they canheal. External fixation is often done if you have severe (very bad) tissue damage,

or you have many injuries. You may still need open surgery on your leg to fixinjured areas after the external fixation is removed.

o Open reduction and internal fixation:During internal fixation surgery, yourcaregiver will make an incision (cut) in your leg to straighten your broken bones.

He will use screws and a metal plate, nails, wires, or rods to hold your brokenbones together. This surgery will allow your broken bones to grow back together.

y Traction: You may need traction when your broken bones are displaced. Traction pullson the bones to put them back into place. A pin may be put in your bone or cast and

hooked to the traction device. Weights are hung from the traction device to help pull thebones into the right position.

y Electrical stimulation:During electrical stimulation, electric currents are placed on yourinjured leg. The currents help increase the blood flow to your leg to help with healing.

This treatment may be used along with other treatments for your leg fracture.


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y Ultrasound therapy: Ultrasound treatments use sound waves directed into your leg. Thesound waves work by helping the bones in your leg heal. You may need this treatment

along with other treatments.

y Tetanus shot: You may need a tetanus shot if you have breaks in your skin from yourinjury. A tetanus shot is a shot of medicine to prevent you from getting tetanus. The shotis normally given into your arm. You should have a tetanus shot if you have not had one

in the past 5 to 10 years. Your arm can get red, swollen, and sore after getting this shot.

What can I do to help my leg fracture heal?

y Rest: You may need to rest your leg and avoid activities that cause leg pain. Rest is mostcommonly used to treat a stress fracture.

y Elevation: You may use pillows to keep your leg at, or above the level of your heart.Elevation helps decrease swelling and pain, and improves blood flow.

y Ice: Ice causes blood vessels to constrict (get small) which helps decrease swelling, pain,and redness. Put crushed ice in a plastic bag and wrap it with a towel. Place the ice bagon your leg for 15 to 20 minutes every hour as long as needed. Use the ice for as long as

your caregiver says you should. Do not fall asleep on the ice as it may cause frostbite.

y Diet:Poor nutrition can lead to poor healing of your leg fracture. Eat a variety of healthyfoods from all the food groups every day. Include whole grain bread, cereal, rice, andpasta. Eat a variety of fruits and vegetables, including dark green and orange vegetables,

and legumes (dry beans). Include dairy products such as low-fat milk, yogurt, and cheese.Choose protein sources such as lean meat and poultry (chicken), fish, beans, eggs, and

nuts.

y Keep normal blood sugar levels:People with diabetes may have poor wound healing.Keeping your blood sugar levels normal may improve your healing. Ask your caregiverwhat your blood sugar level should be.

y Quit smoking: Smoking can make it harder for your leg fracture to heal. Smoking alsoharms the heart, lungs, and the blood. You are more likely to have a heart attack, lung

disease, and cancer if you smoke. You will help yourself and those around you by notsmoking. Ask your caregiver for more information about how to stop smoking if you are

having trouble quitting.

What are the risks of having a leg fracture?

y If you need a brace, cast, or splint, you may get skin sores. Full leg casts can lead to kneestiffness. Even with a cast or surgery, the bones in your leg may not heal right. Duringsurgery, the nerves, blood vessels, and tissues in your leg may be damaged. You may get

an infection, and have leg pain after surgery. You may have numbness or weakness inyour leg. Decreased movement from traction may lead to skin sores or a lung infection.


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y Having a leg fracture increases your risk of getting a blood clot in your leg or arm. Thiscan cause pain and swelling, and it can stop blood from flowing where it needs to go in

your body. The blood clot can break loose and travel to your lungs. A blood clot in yourlungs can cause chest pain and trouble breathing. This problem can be life-threatening.

y Without treatment, the bones in your leg may not heal properly. If your fracture heals onits own, your leg may be deformed. You may not be able to move your leg as well as you

did before your injury. You may have pain, and you may lose feeling in your leg. Youmay have tissue damage, and get a severe leg infection. Severe infections may lead to a

bone infection, and you may need your leg amputated (removed). Severe infections andother problems may even lead to death.

Where can I find more information?

Contact the following:

y American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons6300 North River Road

Rosemont , IL 60018-4262Phone: 1- 847 - 823-7186

Web Address: http://www.aaos.org/

y American Academy of Family Physicians11400 Tomahawk CreekParkwayLeawood , KS 66211-2680

Phone: 1- 913 - 906-6000Phone: 1- 800 - 274-2237

Web Address: http://www.aafp.org

When should I call my caregiver?

Call your caregiver if:

y You have a fever (increased body temperature).y You have leg pain at rest.y You have chest pain or trouble breathing that is getting worse over time.y You have questions or concerns about your injury, treatment, or care.

When should I seek immediate help?

Seek care immediately or call 911:


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A Leg Fracture is a Break in One or More of the Bones in Your Leg