Broken Leg – Symptoms and Causes

Overview

A leg fracture happens when a bone in the leg breaks or cracks. People often break their legs from falling, being in car accidents, or getting hurt while playing sports.

The treatment plan depends on how bad the break is and which bone is affected. Doctors may use metal pins and plates to fix severe fractures. For less serious breaks, a cast or splint might be enough.

Getting quick medical care is important. Proper and timely treatment helps ensure the bone heals correctly and completely.

Signs of a Broken Leg

A broken leg can happen to the thighbone (femur), shinbone (tibia), or the smaller bone beside the shin (fibula).

Breaks in the thighbone are usually more obvious because this strong bone needs great force to break. Shin fractures might be harder to notice.

Common signs of a broken leg include:

• Severe pain that often gets worse when you move.
• Swelling around the injured area.
• Tenderness when touched.
• Bruising at the break site.
• Visible deformity or shorter appearance of the affected leg.
• Cannot walk properly or at all.

Young children with broken legs might not explain what’s wrong. Instead, they may start limping or refuse to walk altogether.

When Medical Help Is Needed

Call emergency services right away for leg injuries from high-impact accidents like car crashes. Thighbone fractures are especially serious and can be life-threatening. Emergency responders will protect the injury and safely transport you to the hospital.

Don’t delay treatment for any suspected broken leg, as this could lead to complications and poor healing outcomes.

Causes

Leg fractures happen for several reasons. Here are the most common causes:

• Falls: A simple fall can break bones in your lower leg. Breaking the thighbone typically requires a harder impact.
• Vehicle Crashes: Car accidents often result in broken legs. This happens when knees hit the dashboard during a collision or when car parts crush against the legs.
• Sports Injuries:
  • Overextending the leg during physical contact
  • Direct hits from sports equipment
  • Collisions with other players
• Child Abuse: Unfortunately, broken legs in non-walking children may indicate abuse.
• Stress Fractures: These are tiny cracks in bones that develop from:
  • Repetitive motions like long-distance running
  • Regular pressure on weakened bones
  • Underlying conditions such as osteoporosis

The severity of a leg fracture depends on the force applied to the bone. High-impact injuries usually cause more complex breaks, while lower-force impacts might result in hairline fractures that are less severe but still painful.

Risk Factors

Stress fractures often happen due to repeated stress on leg bones during activities like:

• Running
• Ballet dancing
• Basketball
• Marching

Contact sports such as hockey and football can also cause leg fractures from direct impacts.

People face a higher risk of stress fractures if they have:

• Low bone density (osteoporosis)
• Diabetes
• Rheumatoid arthritis

These conditions can weaken bones and make them more likely to crack under pressure.

Complications

Breaking a leg can lead to several possible problems beyond the initial injury. These issues might happen during recovery or even years later.

Joint Pain

Pain in the knee or ankle often occurs with leg fractures. The break may cause stress on nearby joints, leading to discomfort even if those joints weren’t directly injured.

Infection Risk

When a broken bone tears through the skin (open fracture), germs can enter the wound and cause bone infection. This condition, called osteomyelitis, requires prompt medical treatment.

Healing Problems

Some leg breaks heal slowly or incompletely. This happens most often with tibia (shinbone) fractures because this bone receives less blood flow than other leg bones.

Nerve and Blood Vessel Injuries

Fractures can damage nearby nerves and blood vessels. Warning signs include:

• Numbness
• Pale skin
• Poor circulation
• Unusual coldness in the affected limb

Compartment Syndrome

This rare but serious condition involves painful swelling in muscle compartments near the break. It occurs more often after high-impact accidents and requires emergency treatment to prevent permanent damage.

Future Arthritis

Breaks that extend into joints or heal with poor alignment may lead to arthritis years later. See a doctor if your leg begins hurting long after it has healed.

Growth Issues in Children

In children, fractures through growth plates (soft areas at the ends of bones) can affect normal growth. This might result in one leg becoming shorter or longer than the other as the child develops.

Ways to Reduce Broken Leg Risk

Building stronger bones can help prevent leg fractures. Eating foods rich in calcium like cheese, milk, and yogurt strengthens your bones. Some people may benefit from calcium or vitamin D supplements.

Talk to your doctor before starting any new supplements to make sure they’re right for you.

Proper footwear matters too. Choose shoes designed specifically for your sport or activity. Don’t keep using worn-out athletic shoes. Replace them when:

• The tread wears down
• The heel shows significant wear
• Shoes show uneven wear patterns

Varying your exercise routine can prevent stress fractures. This approach, called cross-training, gives specific bones and muscles time to recover while you stay active.

For runners who use indoor tracks, change your running direction regularly. Tracks typically slope slightly, and always running in the same direction puts uneven stress on your leg bones.

Remember that not all broken legs can be prevented, especially those caused by accidents or falls. However, these simple steps can reduce your overall risk by strengthening bones and reducing unnecessary stress.

Athletes should be particularly careful about proper training techniques. Gradually increasing activity levels rather than sudden changes in intensity helps bones adapt safely. This is especially important for runners and those participating in high-impact sports.

Proper nutrition supports bone health beyond just calcium. A balanced diet with adequate protein, vitamins, and minerals contributes to stronger bones that resist fractures better.

For those with previous leg injuries or conditions affecting bone density, working closely with healthcare providers can help develop personalized prevention strategies. This might include specific exercises to improve leg strength and balance.

Children and teens going through growth spurts need extra attention to prevent leg fractures, as their bones are still developing.