Broken leg

A broken leg is a break in one or more bones of the leg. The most common bone fractures in the leg are those of the femur, fibula or tibia. A fracture of the kneecap is seen less often.

How does a broken leg occur?

A broken leg is in most cases a direct consequence of a fall, a traffic accident or a hard blow to the leg during sport. But the leg can also break due to deteriorated bone quality. Deteriorated bone quality can arise due to a congenital abnormality, but can also be the result of a disease or the ageing process. With ageing, osteoporosis (bone demineralisation) can occur. That makes the bones more brittle and that can lead to a break. More about osteoporosis and the important relationship with lifestyle and nutrition can be found here.

Characteristics (symptoms) of a broken leg

Almost immediately after the break it will be impossible to fully load the leg and there is a local, sharp pain. At the level of the break there can also be swelling or discolouration. In severe breaks there may be a visible deformity of the leg. Or it may even be that a piece of bone protrudes and pierces the skin. Apart from a break of the bone there is often also injury to the so-called soft tissues. For example the skin, tendons, muscles and possibly even to blood vessels and nerves.

How is a broken leg diagnosed?

On the basis of the patient history and the physical examination there is often already a clear picture as to whether the leg in question is broken. This must then be further examined by imaging (a test that makes a picture of the inside of the body).

With an X-ray the specialist gets more information about the presence, location and severity of a bone fracture. A CT scan or MRI scan provides more detailed information and clarity about the presence of soft-tissue injury.

Treatment of a broken leg

To provide the best treatment for a broken leg, it is important to be clear about the type, location and severity of the break. A conservative treatment can be chosen. This means that the broken leg is not operated on and must heal with the help of a plaster splint and rest. An operation may be necessary in severe breaks. In this case the broken bone is fixed with fixation material. Examples of this fixation material are metal plates, wires or screws.

A physiotherapist is ideally suited to get the leg fully load-bearing again. Possible treatment options that the physiotherapist can apply are mobilisation techniques, massage, medical taping and exercise therapy.

Find a physiotherapist here to rehabilitate from a broken leg.