Other injuries may be treated with a cast or splint. In all cases, prompt diagnosis and treatment of a broken leg is critical to complete healing. A broken thighbone femur — the strongest bone in your body — usually is obvious because it takes so much force to break.
But fractures of your shinbone tibia — the major weight-bearing bone in your lower leg — and the bone that runs alongside your tibia below your knee fibula may be more subtle. Toddlers or young children who break a leg may simply stop walking, even if they can't explain why. Unexplained crying may be a symptom of a toddler who has a fracture. If you or your child has any signs or symptoms of a broken leg, see a doctor right away.
Delays in diagnosis and treatment can result in problems later, including poor healing. Seek emergency medical attention for any leg fracture from a high-impact trauma, such as a car or motorcycle accident. Fractures of the thighbone are severe, potentially life-threatening injuries that require emergency medical services to help protect the area from further damage and to transfer you safely to your local hospital.
Stress fractures are often the result of repetitive stress to the leg bones from physical activities, such as:. Contact sports, such as hockey and football, also may pose a risk of direct blows to the leg, which can result in a fracture. Broken leg care at Mayo Clinic.
Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. An extreme force may shatter the bone. How your doctor treats your broken leg depends on the location and type of fracture. 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.
This starts with setting the leg. This positioning process is called reduction. Once the bones are properly positioned, the leg is typically immobilized with a splint or cast made of plaster or fiberglass. In some cases, internal fixation devices, such as rods, plates, or screws, need to be surgically implanted. This is often necessary with injuries such as:.
In some cases, your doctor may recommend an external fixation device. Your doctor may recommend over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen Tylenol or ibuprofen Advil to help reduce pain and inflammation. Once your leg is out of its splint, cast, or external fixation device, you doctor may recommend physical therapy to lessen stiffness and bring back movement and strength to your healing leg.
There are complications that may arise during and after the healing process for your broken leg. These may include:. It could take several weeks to several months for your broken leg to heal. If you have a splint or cast, your doctor might recommend you use crutches or a cane to keep weight off the affected leg for six to eight weeks or longer.
If you have an external fixation device, your doctor will most likely remove it after about six to eight weeks. During this recovery period, the chances are good that your pain will stop well before the fracture is solid enough to handle normal activity. After your cast, brace, or other immobilization device is removed, your doctor may suggest you continue to limit movement until the bone is solid enough for you to return to your typical activity level. If your doctor recommends physical therapy and exercise, it may take several months or even longer to complete the healing of a severe leg break.
Children's bones heal much more quickly than adult bones. With timely treatment, most kids recover completely and regain full use of the injured leg. Leg fractures can occur in one or more of the three long bones in the leg: the femur, the tibia, and the fibula.
The tibia and fibula are also prone to stress fractures , hairline cracks caused by repetitive stress on the same part of the body. Stress fractures are commonly seen in running and other high-impact repetitive sports. There is often no single traumatic event associated with a stress fracture. As it breaks, a bone might make a snapping sound or cause acute pain. Other symptoms of a broken leg include:. Seek medical care immediately if your child has any of symptoms of a broken bone.
If you see the bone poking out through the skin, do not move your child and call immediately. Most broken legs are caused by a fall or significant force. When the leg is placed under too much pressure, the bone will break. Common causes include:. Our pediatric expertise allows for accurate diagnosis of conditions related to the growing musculoskeletal system and development of optimal care plans. Our Orthopedic Urgent Care Clinic treats patients with orthopedic injuries that require prompt medical attention but are not serious enough to need emergency room care.
We offer urgent care services in four locations — Boston , Waltham , Peabody , and Weymouth. For Patients. Contact the Lower Extremity Program International Broken Leg. What is a broken leg? What are the long bones of the leg? Femur thighbone The femur is the largest, strongest, and longest bone in the body.
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