For most people, a broken bone will heal within a few months and there will not be any further problems.
You should not drive while in a cast. Last medically reviewed on August 10, 2018, Bone fracture repair is a surgery to fix a broken bone using metal screws, pins, rods, or plates to hold the bone in place. Always consult a medical provider for diagnosis and treatment.
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A broken leg is a break or crack in one of the bones in your leg. A broken leg (leg fracture) will be severely painful and may be swollen or bruised. These include: The primary treatment for a broken bone is to make sure the ends of the bone are properly aligned and then to immobilize the bone so it can properly heal.
In some cases a general anaesthetic is needed, which means you'll be asleep during the procedure. More severe fractures can take between 3 and 6 months to fully heal. Our servers have detected that you are accessing this site from a country that is a member of the European Union. 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. Occasionally, a further operation may be needed if the bone does not heal properly.
The puncture point is still bleeding from time to time and painful. You usually will not be able to walk on it. An extreme force may shatter the bone. Your Brain Just Can’t Handle It, 16 Simple Ways to Relieve Stress and Anxiety, How to Fall Asleep in 10, 60, or 120 Seconds. You'll probably need to use crutches or a wheelchair during this time, until it's possible to put weight on the leg again. 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. The hospital may recommend regular physiotherapy appointments to help you maintain or regain muscle strength, movement and flexibility. This is removed once the fracture has healed.
Once the bones are in the correct position, a plaster cast can be applied.
This content is not available in your region. Help Millions of people find the right doctor and care they need, Urgent care centers can be faster and cheaper for situations that are not life threatening, Doctors and patients discuss the latest medical treatments and health tips, Search prescription drugs for why they’re used, side effects and more, Back and Neck Surgery (Except Spinal Fusion). Further X-rays are often necessary to check how well your leg is healing. If it's a severe fracture, the leg may be an odd shape and the bone may even be poking out of the skin. Because it takes so much force to break it, a femur fracture is usually obvious.
Once the bones are properly positioned, the leg is typically immobilized with a splint or cast made of plaster or fiberglass. This will include specific exercises to do before and after the cast is removed. If you think you or someone else has broken their leg, go immediately to your nearest accident and emergency (A&E) department. Read more about how to look after your plaster cast. Your recovery time will depend on the severity of the injury and how you follow your doctor’s directions. 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.
If the broken bone is still in position, you'll usually just need a plaster cast. Sedatives are sometimes provided before the procedure and local or regional anaesthetic is used to numb the site of the break. These bones may break into two or more pieces.If a broken bone has been exposed to the outside, either by a cut over the fracture, or by bone sticking out through the skin, it is called an open fracture. 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.