A lower extremity fracture is the medical term for a broken bone in your leg. This can include any of the bones in your hip, thigh, shin, ankle, or foot. These types of injuries are also a major part of orthopaedic trauma, a special area of medicine focused on serious injuries to bones, joints, and soft tissues (like muscles and ligaments) that happen because of an accident or other sudden event.
If you’ve broken a bone in your leg, you’re not alone. Lower extremity fractures are very common. At California Pacific Orthopaedics, our team of expert doctors in San Francisco is here to help you understand your injury and get you back on your feet. We use the latest medical treatments and create a personalized plan to help you heal and get back to your life.
This page will give you the basics on lower extremity fractures, including what causes them, what to look out for, and how we treat them.
Common Symptoms and Causes
What Does a Lower Extremity Fracture Feel and Look Like?
A broken leg can be very obvious, but sometimes it’s harder to tell. Here are some of the most common signs and symptoms:
- Severe pain: This is usually the first and most obvious sign. The pain might get worse when you move or put weight on your leg.
- Swelling and bruising: The area around the break will likely swell up and you might see bruising on the skin.
- Deformity: The leg may look bent or out of place. This is a clear sign of a serious fracture.
- Inability to walk or put weight on the leg: If you can’t stand or walk, you may have a fracture.
- A “popping” or “snapping” sound: Some people hear a sound when the bone breaks.
- Numbness or tingling: If a nerve is damaged, you might feel a “pins and needles” sensation.
What Causes Lower Extremity Fractures?
A broken leg happens when a force stronger than the bone itself is applied to the bone. Some of the most common causes include:
- Falls: This is a very common cause, especially in older adults who may have weaker bones (a condition called osteoporosis).
- Car accidents: The high impact of a car crash can cause very serious fractures.
- Sports injuries: Contact sports like football and soccer, as well as sports that involve a lot of running and jumping, can lead to broken bones.
- Overuse: Sometimes, repeated stress on a bone can cause a small crack called a stress fracture. This is more common in athletes.
- Medical conditions: Some diseases, like cancer or osteoporosis, can make your bones weak and more likely to break.
Common Risk Factors
Certain things can make you more likely to break a bone in your lower body. These are called risk factors. Some of the most common risk factors include:
- Age: As you get older, your bones naturally become thinner and weaker, making them more likely to break.
- Being a woman: Women are more likely to get osteoporosis, a condition that weakens bones.
- Poor nutrition: Not getting enough calcium and vitamin D in your diet can make your bones weak.
- Smoking and drinking alcohol: These habits can also weaken your bones.
- An inactive lifestyle: Weight-bearing exercises, like walking and running, help keep your bones strong. If you don’t get enough exercise, your bones can become weaker.
- Certain medical conditions: As mentioned before, conditions like osteoporosis and cancer can increase your risk of fractures.
- Playing high-impact sports: Sports like football, soccer, and basketball put a lot of stress on your legs, which can lead to fractures.
What to Expect: Diagnosis and Treatment
Getting a Diagnosis
If you think you might have a broken leg, it’s important to see a doctor right away. At California Pacific Orthopaedics, our doctors will start by asking you about how the injury happened and what your symptoms are. They will then do a physical exam to check for swelling, bruising, and any deformities.
To confirm that you have a fracture, your doctor will order an X-ray. An X-ray is a simple, painless test that uses a small amount of radiation to create a picture of your bones. In some cases, your doctor might also order other imaging tests, like a CT scan or an MRI, to get a more detailed look at the injury.
Your Treatment Plan
The treatment for a lower extremity fracture depends on which bone is broken and how bad the break is. The main goal of treatment is to put the broken bone back in the right position and hold it there while it heals.
- Nonsurgical Treatment: If the broken bone is still in a good position, you might not need surgery. In this case, your doctor will use a cast or a splint to hold the bone in place while it heals. A cast is a hard, protective covering that goes all the way around your leg. A splint is like a cast, but it doesn’t go all the way around. You might also need to use crutches to keep weight off your leg while it heals.
- Surgical Treatment: If the broken bone is out of place, you will likely need surgery to fix it. This is called an open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF). During this surgery, your doctor will make a cut in your skin to get to the broken bone. They will then put the bone back in the right position and use special screws, plates, rods, or pins to hold it in place.
Before, During, and After Your Procedure
Before the Procedure:
- If you need surgery, you will be given anesthesia so you don’t feel any pain.
- You will need to stop eating and drinking for a certain amount of time before the surgery.
- Your doctor will talk to you about the risks and benefits of the surgery and answer any questions you have.
During the Procedure:
- If you are having surgery, your surgeon will make an incision to access the broken bone.
- They will then carefully realign the bone and use metal implants to hold it in place.
- The incision will be closed with stitches or staples.
After the Procedure:
- You will likely stay in the hospital for a few days after surgery.
- You will be given pain medication to help you stay comfortable.
- You will need to keep your leg elevated to reduce swelling.
- A physical therapist will work with you to help you start moving your leg again.
- You will need to use crutches or a walker for a while to keep weight off your leg.
- It can take several months to a year to fully recover from a lower extremity fracture. It’s important to follow your doctor’s instructions and go to all of your follow-up appointments.
Why Choose California Pacific Orthopaedics?
If you are looking for an orthopedic surgeon in San Francisco, CA, look no further than California Pacific Orthopaedics. Our team of board-certified orthopedic surgeons has years of experience treating all types of lower extremity fractures. We are dedicated to providing our patients with the highest quality of care and helping them get back to their active lives. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.
