Broken leg

A broken leg needs medical treatment and time to heal. Learn how long it can take to recover and what you can do to help.

What are the symptoms?

What causes a broken leg?

Who’s at risk?

When to see a doctor and getting diagnosed

Treatment for a broken leg

Self-care tips

Preventing a broken leg

Usually caused by an accident or fall, breaking your leg can be very painful and scary. Find out why getting treatment quickly could help speed up healing and prevent complications. Plus, how you can help your recovery with self-care, including pain relief and physical therapy.


A broken leg – also known as a fractured leg – is when one or more of the bones in your thigh, shin or calf is put under such pressure that it cracks or breaks.

It most often happens because of an accident – such as being knocked off a bike, being injured in a football game or falling down some steps – and can be very painful and upsetting.

You probably won’t be able to walk on the broken leg, and you’ll need urgent medical treatment to help it heal without complications.

With time, patience, and pain relief, you should make a full recovery – usually within a few months, although it can take longer for a severe fracture to heal.


## What are the symptoms?

If you break your leg, in most cases you won’t be able to stand, put weight on it or walk on it, and you’ll be in a lot of pain.

In some cases, you may actually hear the bone break (a ‘crack’ sound). 

Your leg may also look:

- swollen
- bruised or discolored
- noticeably lumpy, deformed or different from your non-broken leg.

If it’s a bad break, you may be able to see the broken bone coming through your skin.

The shock and pain of a broken leg can make you feel nauseous, dizzy, or faint – you may even pass out.

Because a broken leg is often caused by a fall, accident, or injury during exercise or playing sports, you may also have symptoms of shock (be pale, cold and sweaty) or concussion, or have broken bones in other parts of your body, too.

__Always seek [emergency medical help](https://www.livehealthily.com/health-library/conditions/broken-leg#when-to-see-a-doctor) if you think you’ve broken your leg – or if you’ve been involved in a bad accident or fall.__

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## What causes a broken leg?

There are lots of possible causes, but breaks are often due to:

- a fall 
- contact sports (such as football or hockey); or extreme sports (like climbing or skiing)
- a car accident.

Overusing your leg (repetitive use) – such as regularly running long distances – can also cause a type of break called a ‘stress fracture’, where tiny cracks appear in a bone.


## Who’s at risk?

Anyone can break a leg, and it’s more common to break your shin bone (tibia) and calf bone (fibula). A thigh bone (femur) fracture will usually happen at the same time as 1 of the others, not on its own.

You’re more at risk of breaking a leg if you:

- play contact sports
- do sports that put repetitive strain on the legs, such as  running or ballet
- are over 65
- are at increased risk of falling over
- have weak bones/low bone density ([osteoporosis](https://www.livehealthily.com/health-library/conditions/osteoporosis))
- have [diabetes](https://www.livehealthily.com/health-library/conditions/diabetes) or [rheumatoid arthritis](https://www.livehealthily.com/health-library/conditions/rheumatoid-arthritis) (that affect bone density). 


## When to see a doctor and getting diagnosed

If you [think you have a broken leg](https://www.livehealthily.com/health-library/conditions/broken-leg#symptoms), you should get emergency medical care.

Delaying treatment may lead to complications, such as pain, infection, and nerve damage. The break could also take longer to heal, or not heal properly.

Until you get seen by a doctor, you should:

- cover any open wounds with a clean dressing, cloth or clothing
- try not to move the leg – keep it straight and put a pillow under it for support if you can. 

Diagnosis will usually involve an X-ray to see where the broken bone or bones are, and how bad the break is. 

In some cases you may also need a more detailed imaging test, such as a [CT scan](https://www.livehealthily.com/health-library/medical-exams/ct-scan) or [MRI](https://www.livehealthily.com/health-library/medical-exams/mri-scan), because stress or tiny hairline fractures may not always show up on an [X-ray](https://www.livehealthily.com/health-library/medical-exams/x-ray). Your doctors may also need extra information to plan your treatment.


## Treatment for a broken leg

Once the type of break has been diagnosed, doctors will decide how your leg needs to be treated.

Treatment can include:

- __pain relief__ – your healthcare provider will give you painkillers depending on your needs. For severe pain, you may be given gas through a mask or medication through a drip that goes into a vein
- __immobilization__ – your leg will be kept still by setting it with a splint or in a plaster cast (once swelling has gone down), so the broken bone can heal
- __reduction__ – if bones have been knocked out of position, this procedure realigns them before a splint or cast is fitted 
- __surgery__ – for a bad break you may need surgery called ‘internal fixation’, which uses metal screws, plates, or rods to hold the broken bones together – either while they heal or permanently. Alternatively, a temporary metal frame may be attached to your leg – called ‘external fixation’ –  to hold it steady while it heals.

Follow-up appointments, X-rays, and even further surgery may be needed, depending on how the bone or bones heal. 

Doctors will also look out for complications – which are uncommon – such as infection or nerve damage.


## Self-care tips

Your doctor will give you advice about recovering from surgery and how to look after yourself while your broken leg heals.

Things you can do to help your recovery include:

- __being patient__ – small fractures can take 6-8 weeks to heal, while bad breaks can take 3-6 months, and sometimes longer
- __using pain relief__ – if you’re in a lot of pain, ask your doctor to help with a pain management plan
- __having physical therapy__ – when you’re ready, most people need therapy to help rebuild strength and motion. Your healthcare provider will advise you
- __not driving__ – until your leg is strong enough, and definitely not if you’re wearing a cast 
- __avoiding exercise or sports__ – until you get the go-ahead from your doctor or physical therapist 
- __talking to a therapist__ – if your mental health has been affected by shock and trauma at the time of your fracture. 


## Preventing a broken leg

It’s not always possible to avoid breaking your leg, but these things may help minimize your risk, or reduce the damage done in an accident:

- always fasten your seatbelt in a vehicle
- wear shin pads or protective clothing when you play sports
- declutter your home and remove any obstacles near stairs
- don’t stand on chairs or go up ladders to get things
- eat calcium and vitamin D-rich foods (or take supplements) to look after your bones 
- use a cane, walker, or stairlift if you’re unsteady on your feet
- exercise sensibly to avoid putting too much strain on your bones and joints
- wear the right footwear for the activity you’re doing.


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References

Juliet Blank

Susie Parker

Dr Ewan O'Farrell

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A broken leg needs medical treatment and time to heal. Learn how long it can take to recover and what you can do to help. 