What are the common symptoms of a broken leg. How is a broken leg diagnosed. What treatment options are available for a broken leg. What complications can arise from a broken leg. How long does it take to recover from a broken leg.

Understanding the Anatomy of Your Leg

The human leg consists of four primary bones, each playing a crucial role in mobility and support. These bones are:

• Femur (thighbone)
• Patella (kneecap)
• Tibia (shinbone)
• Fibula

The femur, the longest and strongest bone in the human body, extends from the hip to the knee. Its upper part forms the hip joint, while the lower end connects with the tibia to create the knee joint. The patella, commonly known as the kneecap, protects the knee joint and connects the thigh muscle to the tibia. The tibia, or shinbone, bears most of the body’s weight, while the fibula, a smaller bone running alongside the tibia, provides stability and support.

The Importance of Understanding Leg Anatomy

Why is it essential to understand leg anatomy when discussing broken legs? Knowledge of leg structure helps in identifying the location and severity of a fracture. It also aids in understanding the potential complications and recovery process associated with different types of leg fractures.

Types of Leg Fractures: Beyond the Basics

Leg fractures come in various forms, each with unique characteristics and implications for treatment and recovery. The most common types include:

1. Comminuted fracture
2. Compression fracture
3. Greenstick fracture
4. Oblique fracture
5. Segmental fracture
6. Spiral fracture

A comminuted fracture occurs when the bone breaks into three or more pieces, often resulting in bone fragments. Compression fractures involve the bone being crushed, while greenstick fractures are incomplete breaks where the bone isn’t fully separated. Oblique fractures present a diagonal break pattern, and segmental fractures result in two separate breaks with a “floating” bone section in between. Spiral fractures, often caused by twisting injuries, feature a spiraled break pattern.

Open vs. Closed Fractures

How do open and closed fractures differ? An open fracture, also known as a compound fracture, occurs when the broken bone pierces the skin or is visible through a wound. Closed fractures, on the other hand, do not break the skin. Open fractures generally pose a higher risk of complications due to the potential for infection and tissue damage.

Recognizing the Symptoms of a Broken Leg

Identifying a broken leg promptly is crucial for proper treatment and recovery. The primary symptoms of a leg fracture include:

• Intense pain that worsens with movement
• Swelling and tenderness around the affected area
• Bruising or discoloration
• Inability to bear weight on the affected leg
• Visible deformity or change in leg shape

In some cases, particularly with less severe fractures, symptoms may be subtle and require medical imaging for confirmation. Children and toddlers with broken legs may exhibit unexplained crying or a sudden refusal to walk.

Deformity as a Key Indicator

What forms of deformity might indicate a broken leg? Leg deformities associated with fractures can manifest in three main ways:

1. Rotation: The leg below the break appears twisted
2. Angulation: The leg bends at the point of fracture rather than at a joint
3. Shortening: The affected leg appears shorter than the uninjured leg

Common Causes of Leg Fractures

Leg fractures typically result from significant force applied to the bone. Common causes include:

• Motor vehicle accidents
• Falls, especially from heights
• Sports injuries
• Direct blows to the leg
• Twisting injuries

It’s important to note that individuals with weakened bones, such as those with osteoporosis, may be more susceptible to fractures from less severe impacts.

Risk Factors for Leg Fractures

What factors increase the risk of sustaining a leg fracture? Several factors can contribute to an increased likelihood of leg fractures:

• Age: Both the very young and the elderly are at higher risk
• Osteoporosis and other bone-weakening conditions
• Participation in high-impact sports or activities
• Inadequate protective gear during sports or recreational activities
• Certain occupations with higher fall or impact risks

Diagnosing a Broken Leg: From Assessment to Imaging

The process of diagnosing a broken leg typically involves a combination of physical examination and medical imaging. Healthcare providers will assess the injury site, checking for swelling, tenderness, and deformity. They will also evaluate the patient’s ability to move the affected limb and bear weight.

Imaging Techniques for Fracture Diagnosis

What imaging methods are used to confirm and assess leg fractures? The most common imaging techniques include:

• X-rays: The primary tool for diagnosing most fractures
• CT scans: Useful for more detailed views of complex fractures
• MRI: Sometimes used to detect subtle fractures or assess soft tissue damage

In some cases, additional tests may be necessary to rule out related injuries or complications.

Treatment Options for Broken Legs

The treatment approach for a broken leg depends on the location, type, and severity of the fracture. Common treatment methods include:

1. Immobilization: Using casts, splints, or braces to keep the bone in proper alignment during healing
2. Traction: Aligning the bone using a system of weights and pulleys
3. Surgical intervention: Necessary for severe or complex fractures, often involving the use of pins, plates, or screws to stabilize the bone
4. Pain management: Medications to control pain and reduce inflammation
5. Physical therapy: Rehabilitation exercises to restore strength and mobility after the fracture has healed

The Role of Surgery in Treating Leg Fractures

When is surgery necessary for a broken leg? Surgical intervention may be required in cases of:

• Open fractures
• Fractures involving multiple bone fragments
• Fractures that cannot be properly aligned through non-surgical methods
• Fractures near joints
• Fractures associated with severe soft tissue damage

Potential Complications of Broken Legs

While most leg fractures heal without significant issues, complications can occur. Some potential complications include:

• Compartment syndrome: A serious condition where swelling in the leg impairs blood flow
• Infection: Particularly a risk with open fractures
• Malunion: Improper healing leading to bone deformity
• Nonunion: Failure of the bone to heal properly
• Arthritis: Particularly in fractures involving joints
• Blood clots: Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) can occur due to immobilization

Recognizing and Addressing Compartment Syndrome

How can one identify compartment syndrome? Key signs include:

• Severe, increasing pain that doesn’t respond to pain medication
• Rapid loss of muscle strength or numbness in the affected limb
• Tightness or a feeling of pressure in the injured area
• Pale or shiny skin over the injury site

Compartment syndrome is a medical emergency requiring immediate intervention to prevent permanent tissue damage.

The Recovery Journey: From Healing to Rehabilitation

Recovery from a broken leg is a gradual process that varies depending on the severity of the fracture and the individual’s overall health. The typical recovery timeline includes:

1. Initial healing phase: 6-8 weeks for most fractures
2. Progressive weight-bearing: Gradually increasing weight on the affected leg as directed by healthcare providers
3. Physical therapy: Exercises to restore strength, flexibility, and range of motion
4. Return to normal activities: Usually within 3-6 months, though full recovery may take longer for complex fractures

Factors Influencing Recovery Time

What factors can affect the recovery time for a broken leg? Several elements can influence the healing process:

• Age: Younger individuals typically heal faster than older adults
• Overall health: Chronic conditions like diabetes can slow healing
• Nutrition: Adequate intake of calcium, vitamin D, and protein supports bone healing
• Smoking: Can significantly impair bone healing
• Compliance with treatment: Following medical advice and rehabilitation protocols is crucial for optimal recovery

It’s important to maintain open communication with healthcare providers throughout the recovery process to address any concerns or complications promptly.

Preventing Leg Fractures: Strategies for Reducing Risk

While not all leg fractures can be prevented, several strategies can help reduce the risk:

• Maintaining bone health through proper nutrition and exercise
• Using appropriate safety gear during sports and recreational activities
• Fall-proofing the home, especially for older adults
• Practicing safe driving habits and always wearing a seatbelt
• Addressing underlying health conditions that may increase fracture risk

The Importance of Bone Health in Fracture Prevention

How can one maintain optimal bone health to prevent fractures? Key strategies include:

• Consuming adequate calcium and vitamin D
• Engaging in weight-bearing exercises regularly
• Avoiding excessive alcohol consumption and smoking
• Getting regular bone density screenings, especially for those at higher risk of osteoporosis
• Discussing bone health with healthcare providers and addressing any concerns promptly

By implementing these preventive measures and maintaining overall health, individuals can significantly reduce their risk of experiencing a broken leg.

Broken Leg: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment

Written by WebMD Editorial Contributors

• What Is a Broken Leg?
• Types of Leg Breaks
• Broken Leg Symptoms
• Broken Leg Causes
• Broken Leg Diagnosis
• Broken Leg Treatment
• Broken Leg Complications
• Follow-Up
• Broken Leg Prevention
• Broken Leg Recovery
• More

A broken leg is when you break one of the bones in your leg. It can happen lots of ways, like falling or getting into a car accident.

Your leg has four bones (the femur, the patella, the tibia, and the fibula). If there’s an accident, any one of these bones may break (fracture) into two or more pieces.

• Femur. This is the bone in your thigh. It’s the longest and strongest bone in your body. The upper part of the femur fits into the pelvis (the bone that supports your spinal column) to form the hip joint. At this joint, it can move frontward, backward, sideways, and even rotate in and out. When people speak of a “broken hip,” it’s this upper part of the femur that’s broken. The lower end of the femur rests on top of the tibia, forming the knee joint. At the knee, the leg can swing frontward, backward, and even rotate slightly.
• Patella. The kneecap (patella) glides back and forth in front of the knee joint. The kneecap connects your thigh muscle to the tibia. It also helps protect your knee.
• Tibia. This is the shinbone. It supports your body’s weight.
• Fibula. The bone runs alongside the tibia below your knee. It’s on the outside part of the leg and is smaller than the tibia.

The ankle is made up of the bottom ends of the tibia and fibula, the connecting foot bones, and the ligaments and tendons. Serious twisting injuries to the ankle can result in fractures of the tibia or fibula near or within the ankle joint.

There are many types of breaks. What type you have depends on the force it takes to break and the way it breaks.

Types of breaks include:

• Comminuted, when the bone breaks in three or more pieces and there are fragments where the bone broke
• Compression, when the bone is crushed
• Greenstick, when the broken bone isn’t completely separated (an incomplete fracture)
• Oblique, when the bone break is diagonal
• Segmental, when the bone is broken in two pieces (meaning there’s a “floating” part of bone)
• Spiral, when the bone break is spiraled, usually because of a twisting injury

If you can see the bone when it’s broken — either because there’s a cut over the fracture or the bone is sticking out through the skin — it’s called an open fracture. This is sometimes called a compound fracture.

Breaking your femur takes a lot of force, so it’ll probably be obvious if you break it. The major symptoms of a broken leg are pain, swelling, and deformity. Less obvious breaks might need an X-ray to diagnose.

Signs you might have a broken leg are:

• Bruising
• Not being able to walk
• Serious pain that gets worse when you move and gets better when you’re still
• Swelling
• Tenderness
• A change in the form of your leg

If a leg is broken, it can change form in the following ways:

• Rotation: The leg below the break is twisted.
• Angulation: The leg bends at the break instead of at the joint.
• Shortening: The broken leg appears shorter than the unaffected leg.

If you think your child or toddler might have a broken leg, they might cry or stop walking on it without saying why.

When to seek medical care

Some parts of your leg may be broken and still seem like a bad strain. This happens a lot with injuries around the ankle, or sometimes with the fibula, the little bone next to the shinbone.

Call your doctor if:

• You can’t walk without being in a lot of pain
• It hurts when you push on the bony parts of the leg
• You’re worried you might have a broken leg, even if you’re unsure

If you think you or someone else has a broken leg, go to an emergency room for further evaluation. If you can’t walk, you should call 911 for an ambulance.

If you’ve recently had surgery, or had a splint or cast placed already, return to the hospital right away if you have these problems:

• Loss of muscle strength or numbness in the leg or foot. Some loss of strength is common because of the pain of the fracture, but if you notice you’re quickly losing strength, having numbness, or suddenly have a lot of pain that doesn’t go away with your pain medication, it could be a sign of a “compartment syndrome.” Compartment syndrome happens when swelling gets so serious in your leg that it cuts off blood flow to it. This can cause damage to the muscles and nerves in your leg.
• Redness, fever, lots of swelling or pain, and pus draining from a surgical cut are all signs of possible wound infection.

It usually takes quite a bit of force to break bones in your leg. If your bones have been weakened somehow, they can be broken more easily. If the amount of force put on a bone is greater than the amount it can handle, the bone will break.

Some of the ways your leg may break include:

• Car or motorcycle accidents. You can break the bones in your leg when your knee hits the dashboard during a car crash. It’s possible to break all three of the bones in your leg when you get into an accident.
• Falls. Falling, especially from somewhere high, can break one or both of the bones in your lower leg, but falling usually won’t break your thighbone (femur).
• Overuse. It’s possible to get stress fractures — tiny cracks in your bones — when you put pressure on them often, like with long-distance running. Stress fractures can also happen with activities like ballet and basketball.
• Sports injuries. Getting hit during contact sports, like martial arts or football, can cause broken bones, too. So can hyperextending your leg.

In children, child abuse can break leg bones. If a child can’t walk and has a broken leg, that could be a sign of child abuse.

An injury can also cause a bone to break if your bones are weakened by diseases or conditions, including:

• Bone cysts
• Cancer
• Diabetes
• Osteoporosis
• Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
• Tumors

The doctor will check your leg for signs of a break (fracture). If the doctor thinks a bone has been broken, they’ll order X-rays.

The doctor also will look for signs that an artery or nerve was damaged or injured. To do this, they’ll feel for pulses and test your strength and sense of touch below the injury.

If the doctor suspects some other medical condition has weakened the bone, leading to the fracture, other lab tests may be ordered.

It’s often tough to diagnose stress fractures, and special studies beyond X-rays may be needed.

If you have a broken leg, you’ll need to take care of it right away when you’re at home.

Treating a broken leg at home

If an injury happens and you suspect a break, remember the following:

• Keep your leg as still as possible until help arrives.
• Rest. Try to keep from making the injury worse.
• Put an ice pack wrapped in a pillowcase or towel on your leg to ease swelling.
• If possible, keep your leg raised with pillows or cushions to reduce swelling.
• Often with a broken leg, surgery is necessary. For this reason, don’t let someone with a broken leg eat or drink anything until seen by the doctor. Always ask the doctor if it would be OK to eat before doing so.

Medical treatment for a broken leg

The type and location of a break in a leg bone will determine what treatment is needed.

• If the bones have become displaced or out of alignment, they’ll need to be put back into alignment. This procedure is called “reduction.” To do this, you’ll be given medications for pain before the procedure.
• An emergency doctor will be able to treat many types of fractures with a temporary brace or plaster splint and will tell you to follow up with an orthopedic doctor (bone specialist). Fractures of the thigh bone or the shinbone typically will need further care by an orthopedist right away. This may mean a cast or even an operation.
• Your bones will be kept from moving so they can heal using several methods:
  • Setting your leg: When you first get diagnosed, a doctor will keep your leg still with a splint. Your doctor might keep the splint on for a day to let the swelling go down.
  • Immobilization: Next, your doctor might use a splint or cast to stop your bones from moving around. You might also need crutches or a cane to get around easier. If that’s the case, you’ll probably use your crutches or cane for about 6-8 weeks.
  • Medications and treatment: Your doctor might suggest you take over-the-counter pain medication (like acetaminophen or ibuprofen) to help with the pain and swelling. But if your pain is severe, they might give you stronger painkillers.
  • Therapy: Once your leg heals and the doctor takes off your cast or splint, you’ll probably need some sort of therapy. Therapy will help your leg get back to normal, since your muscles will have weakened. It can take a few months or longer for your leg to heal completely.
  • Surgery: Although a cast or splint is usually all most broken bones need, you could need surgery, depending on your break. If you need surgery, pins, screws, and metal plates or wires are usually used to hold together the broken ends of a bone. For fractures in the middle part of the thigh bone (femur) or the shinbone (tibia), a metal rod sometimes is placed down through the center of the bone. This is done in the operating room.

Although not everyone will have other problems that stem from breaking their leg, some complications are possible, including:

• Arthritis. Your break can cause arthritis to pop up years later.
• Blood vessel or nerve damage. When you break your leg, you could also damage the blood vessels or nerves that are nearby.
• Bone infection (osteomyelitis). If you had an open fracture, that means the bone was exposed to the outside air, including germs and fungi. Those could give you an infection in your bone.
• Compartment syndrome. Swelling, pain, and sometimes disability in the muscle near the break can happen with this rare condition. It’s more common with car accidents because it’s considered a “high-impact” injury.
• Delayed or poor healing. A serious broken leg might not heal quickly. It also might never fully heal, depending on the break. This is more common if you have an open fracture involving your tibia, since there’s less blood flow to the bone.
• Legs that are different sizes. If your child breaks a leg, one leg could end up shorter than the other. This is because children’s bones are still growing. But this is rare, especially with the right treatment
• Pain in your ankle or knee. Your ankles or knees could hurt because of your break.

From the emergency department, you will usually need to follow up with an orthopedic doctor. This bone specialist will guide you in further appointments and rehabilitation as necessary.

To lessen your risk of injury from a car accident, use a seat belt. For children, use a safety seat appropriate for the child’s age and weight.

• If you play sports that involve high speeds or heights, play only at your experience level and use the right protective gear.
• Use assistance, like a walker or cane, as instructed by your doctor, if you are at risk for falling or have an unsteady walk.
• Talk to your doctor about screening for diseases that may weaken bones.

If treated promptly and properly, a broken leg usually will regain normal function. How severe the injury is and your age will play roles in how you recover. For instance, an elderly person with a hip fracture may have a hard time getting their strength and mobility back.

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Broken leg – NHS

A broken leg (leg fracture) will be severely painful and may be swollen or bruised. You usually will not be able to walk on it.

If it’s a severe fracture, the leg may be an odd shape and the bone may even be poking out of the skin.

There may have been a “crack” sound when the leg was broken, and the shock and pain of breaking your leg may cause you to feel faint, dizzy or sick.

What to do

If you think you or someone else has broken their leg, go immediately to your nearest accident and emergency (A&E) department.

Call 999 for an ambulance if the injury seems severe or you’re not able to get to A&E quickly.

While you make your way to A&E or wait for an ambulance:

• avoid moving the injured leg as much as possible – keep it straight and put a cushion or clothing underneath to support it
• do not try to realign any bones that are out of place
• cover any open wounds with a sterile dressing, a clean cloth or a clean item of clothing – maintain direct pressure on the wound if it is bleeding

If the person is pale, cold and sweaty (in shock), lie them down and keep them warm and calm until you can get medical help.

How a broken leg is treated

Immobilisation

First, a healthcare professional will give you painkillers and may fix a splint to your leg to secure it in position and prevent further damage.

For severe pain, you may be given painkilling gas through a face mask or medicine through a drip into a vein.

An X-ray will be done to assess the fracture.

If the broken bone is still in position, you’ll usually just need a plaster cast. This holds the bone in place so it can heal.

If there’s a lot of swelling, you may just have a splint or cast around the back half of your leg until the swelling goes down. A full cast can be fitted a few days later.

You may be provided with painkillers to take home and information on how to look after your cast.

Read more about how to care for your plaster cast.

Reduction

If the bones are misaligned, a doctor or surgeon may need to put them back into place. This is known as reduction.

Sedatives are sometimes provided before the procedure and local or regional anaesthetic is used to numb the site of the break.

In some cases a general anaesthetic is needed, which means you’ll be asleep during the procedure.

Once the bones are in the correct position, a plaster cast can be applied.

Surgery

Severe fractures are often treated with surgery to realign and fix the broken bones. Surgeons can fix bones with metal wires, plates, screws or rods.

Plates, screws and rods will usually be left in place permanently unless they become a problem, whereas wires will be removed 4 to 6 weeks after the operation.

Sometimes an external frame (external fixator) is attached to the broken bones with metal pins to help keep them in place. This is removed once the fracture has healed.

After surgery, a plaster cast may be applied to protect the leg.

Follow-up appointments

An appointment will be made for you to attend a fracture clinic so specialist orthopaedic doctors can monitor your fracture.

The first appointment is usually booked for a week or 2 after you’re discharged from hospital.

Severe fractures will usually heal within 3 to 6 months, but may require follow-up appointments every few months for a year or more afterwards.

Further X-rays are often necessary to check how well your leg is healing.

Recovering from a broken leg

You’ll be given advice by your doctor about how much you should move your leg and when you can put weight on it.

It takes around 6 to 8 weeks for a minor fracture to heal. You’ll probably need to use crutches or a wheelchair during this time, until it’s possible to put weight on the leg again.

You’ll be shown how to safely use any mobility equipment you’re provided with.

More severe fractures can take between 3 and 6 months to fully heal. Some can take even longer.

The hospital may recommend regular physiotherapy appointments to help you maintain or regain muscle strength, movement and flexibility.

This will include specific exercises to do before and after the cast is removed.

Do not try to rush your recovery by returning to your normal activities too quickly, as the broken bone may not be fully healed even when the pain has gone.

Follow the advice of your doctor, who’ll probably recommend gradually increasing how much you use your leg over time.

You should not drive while in a cast. Seek advice from your doctor about when you can drive again.

Possible complications

For most people, a broken bone will heal within a few months and there will not be any further problems.

But complications can sometimes occur.

Damaged muscle, nerves or blood vessels

Damage around the fracture can occur during the initial injury or during surgery. 

It may lead to loss of movement or feeling, or may affect the blood supply to the limb.

Bone infection

This is more likely if surgery is performed or the broken bone stuck out of the skin. 

It can significantly delay healing and will often require treatment with antibiotics, surgery, or both.

Compartment syndrome

Compartment syndrome is a painful and potentially serious condition caused by bleeding or swelling within a bundle of muscles.

This can occur soon after a fracture, after the plaster cast has been applied, or after surgery.

Emergency surgery will usually be needed to relieve the build-up of pressure in your leg.

Other complications

Occasionally, a further operation may be needed if the bone does not heal properly.

This can happen if the bone doesn’t align properly during surgery, you put too much weight on the bone before it heals, the fracture is severe, you have diabetes, or you smoke during your recovery.

Types of fracture

Some broken bones are more serious than others – it depends on the location of the fracture, how the bone has broken, and whether there’s any damage to the surrounding tissue.

The most common types of fracture are:

• stress fractures – tiny cracks in the bone caused by overuse, common in athletes
• undisplaced or hairline fracture – a fracture through the bone with little damage to the surrounding tissue
• displaced fracture – the 2 parts of the broken bone have moved apart (misaligned)
• comminuted fracture – the bone has broken (shattered) into several pieces
• open or compound fracture – a complicated break where the bone has broken through the skin, or the initial injury has exposed the broken bone

Page last reviewed: 15 September 2021
Next review due: 15 September 2024

90,000 possible causes, therapy. Rehabilitation medicine

Why does leg swelling occur after a leg fracture? The reasons for this phenomenon will be discussed in the materials of this article. We will also tell you how to properly treat this pathological condition.

Basic information

Swelling of the leg after a leg fracture occurs quite often. Before telling how to get rid of such a phenomenon, you should find out what it is.

Edema is the accumulation of a certain amount of fluid in the soft tissues of the body. Very often, such a pathological condition develops after injury to the limb. Experts explain this phenomenon by disturbed blood flow in the damaged area of ​​the body.

Swelling of the leg after a leg fracture may appear immediately after the injury, and also develop after some time, including after the fracture has completely healed.

Peculiarities of edema

Swelling of the leg after a leg fracture may be a long-term and persistent phenomenon. Very often, the cause of such consequences is not only poor blood flow, but also damage or violation of the integrity of the ligaments or muscle tissue, as well as failures in their normal operation.

Foot fracture: therapy, photos, symptoms and signs. Signs of a fracture…

When a tumor appears on an injured limb, the patient may experience severe and aching pain. Also in this place the color of the skin changes.

In the event that the fracture was open or intra-articular, comminuted or displaced, then swelling can be observed not only on the injured part of the leg, but also over its entire surface.

It should also be noted that sometimes with such injuries, patients lose skin sensitivity and experience constant pain, which ultimately leads to a decrease in human motor activity. Because of this, the patient may develop serious complications.

Main causes

A cast on a broken leg is a completely normal situation. In this case, very often there are such cases when, after prolonged immobilization of the limb, the bones grow well and quickly, and after removing the bandage, during the rehabilitation of the patient, edema forms on the leg. In this case, the skin remains without visible damage. In medical practice, this problem is called “lymphostasis”.

Ankle fracture: signs, first aid and features…

According to experts, lymphatic edema may occur due to a violation of the outflow and production of lymph. In this case, as a result of a fracture in the victim, not only the bones can be damaged, but also the vessels, nearby tissues, nerves, muscles, lymph nodes, ligaments, and so on.

With the appearance of lymphostasis, the patient may experience complications such as elephantiasis, cysts, ulcers, fibrosis, and others. There are also cases when, with swelling of the injured area, it not only thickens, but also thickens the skin.

Other reasons

Why does the leg swell after a fracture (what to do in this situation, we will tell further)? As a rule, in violation of the integrity of the ligaments, the joints are limited in movement. Also, they may appear excessive mobility. Such phenomena contribute to the development of severe puffiness, which is the cause of the appearance of “ivory” or growths of bone tissue.

Fracture temperature. The reaction of the body to a fracture

Plaster cast on the leg does not cause swelling. This pathological condition is caused by completely different reasons. But in any case, if such symptoms appear, you should immediately consult a doctor, since ignoring them entails very serious consequences.

How to relieve swelling after a broken leg?

There are many ways to eliminate swelling that has developed after an injury. However, to choose the most suitable method, you should always consult a doctor. This is due to the fact that any medicine for edema has its own side reactions and contraindications.

By the way, not only modern preparations can eliminate the swelling of the lower extremities after a serious injury, but also special procedures, which should also be recommended by an experienced doctor.

So how do you relieve swelling after a broken leg? There are several methods for eliminating such a pathological condition. These include folk, traditional and alternative.

Conventional edema treatment

Restorative medicine requires various creams, gels and ointments to relieve swelling in the lower extremity. Such local preparations help to improve not only lymph flow, but also blood flow.

According to experts, the medicine for edema should contain heparin. This substance belongs to the group of direct anticoagulants, which prevents blood clotting and quickly eliminates any swelling.

Also, after a fracture of a limb, doctors very often prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs and ketoprofen-containing drugs for topical use to their patients. In addition, to improve blood flow and lymph outflow, some experts recommend using ketoprofen or ichthyol ointment. “These products produce a warming effect and have an antitumor effect. Such ointments should be applied no more than three times a day, intensively rubbing them into the skin area until completely absorbed .

Alternative methods

In addition to traditional methods in the form of drugs and ointments, restorative medicine recommends removing limb edema after a fracture through various physiotherapy procedures, including UV irradiation, electrophoresis, electrical stimulation, and others. However, it should be remembered that such methods do not always make it possible to see the result of treatment immediately after it has begun.

So, to relieve swelling of the lower limb after a fracture, doctors recommend:

• Electrical muscle stimulation. This procedure has a beneficial effect on tissue after damage.
• Hydromassage or regular massage that improves blood supply to damaged tissues, as well as the production and flow of lymph. You can do this massage yourself or entrust this procedure to a specialist.
• UV irradiation of the damaged area.
• Electrophoresis.
• Phonophoresis.

Folk remedies

Swelling of the leg after an ankle fracture can occur in any person. Most often, with this problem, the patient turns to the doctor. But if traditional methods of therapy do not help, then you should turn your attention to already proven folk remedies.

In order to eliminate swelling of the legs, alternative medicine suggests the use of a variety of oils, which must be gently rubbed into the injury site.

As such folk remedies, experts recommend using cedar, fir or other oils that promote tissue regeneration and have a warming effect. In addition, in alternative medicine, many people use compresses with special clay or tincture. By the way, some of them can even be taken orally.

Consider the most effective and popular remedies that are most effective in eliminating edema:

• Pharmacy blue clay. The powder is diluted with a small amount of water, and then a cake is made from the resulting mass, which should completely cover the damaged area. It is applied to the fracture site for about 40-55 minutes. Such a compress must be done three times a day.
• Fir oil is intensively rubbed into the skin, where tissue swelling is observed. This procedure should be carried out immediately after sleep and immediately before it.

• Arnica infusion. To prepare such an antitumor solution, several large spoons of the crushed plant are poured with hot water (boiling water) and infused for about an hour. It should be remembered that for 1 liter of liquid it is necessary to take approximately 30 g of arnica. After a while, the infusion is filtered through gauze, after which it is used for compresses and lotions, which are applied to the fracture site for 1/4 hour before bedtime.

Leg Fracture

You have a broken leg. The fracture is treated with a splint, plaster or a special boot. The fracture will take 4 to 6 weeks to heal. If you have a severe fracture, you may need surgery to treat it.

Home care

Follow these guidelines for home care:

• You will be given a splint or cast, a special boot or other device to keep your leg in place. Unless otherwise instructed, use crutches or a walker to walk. Do not step on the injured foot until you have received permission from your doctor to do so. (You can rent crutches or a walker from many pharmacies or surgical or orthopedic supply stores.)

• To reduce pain and swelling, keep your leg elevated. When you go to bed, put a pillow under your injured leg. When sitting, position your injured leg so that it is at waist level. This rule is very important to observe during the first 2 days (48 hours).

• Apply an ice pack to the injury. Apply an ice pack for 20 minutes every 1 to 2 hours during the first day to reduce pain. You can prepare an ice pack by wrapping a plastic bag of ice cubes in a thin towel. Make sure that when the ice melts, the plaster / splint / boot does not get wet. You can apply an ice pack directly over the splint or cast. For the next 2 days, continue to apply an ice pack 3-4 times a day. Then use an ice pack as needed to reduce pain and swelling.

• The cast/longuet/boot must always be kept dry. During washing, do not immerse the cast/longuet/boot in water. To prevent water from entering, wrap the bandage with a plastic bag, securing it at the top with a rubber band. If the boot, fiberglass splint or splint gets wet, you can dry it with a hair dryer.

• If you have not been prescribed other medicines, you can take acetaminophen (acetaminophen) or ibuprofen (ibuprofen) to reduce pain. If you have chronic liver disease or kidney disease, talk to your doctor before taking these medicines. You should also consult your doctor if you have had a stomach ulcer (stomach ulcer) or gastrointestinal bleeding (GI bleeding).

• If you experience itching, do not apply any creams under the cast or insert any objects.

Follow-up

See your doctor again in 1 week or as directed. This is necessary to make sure that the bone is healing properly. If a splint has been applied, it can be replaced with a plaster cast at the next visit to the doctor.

If x-rays have been taken, they will be reviewed by a radiologist. You will be informed of any results that may affect your treatment.

When to Seek Medical Care

Call your healthcare facility right away if you experience any of the following:

• There is a crack in the dressing

• Cast or splint is wet or soft

• GRP or splint stays wet for more than 24 hours

• Dressing has a foul odor or stains from wound discharge

• Feeling of tightness or pain under a cast or splint is aggravated

• Toes become swollen, cold, blue, numb, or tingly

• You can’t move your toes

• The skin around the dressing turns red

• Temperature 101 ºF (38. 3 ºC) or higher, or as directed by your healthcare professional

© 2000-2022 The StayWell Company, LLC. All rights reserved. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your healthcare professional’s instructions.

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