Broken Leg Definition, Reason, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention
Definition
A broken leg is a broken condition in one of the leg bones. In principle, the large bones in the leg or lower body consist of the femur (thigh bone), tibia (shin bone), and fibula (calf bone).
Fractures in the leg are divided into two, namely:
- Open fracture, a condition where the fracture causes the bone to protrude or protrude through the skin.
- A closed fracture, where the fracture does not cause the bone to come out of the skin.
Symptoms
The main symptoms of a broken leg are severe pain, swelling, and a change in the shape of the leg. A change in the shape of the leg can be in the form of shortening (the broken leg looks shorter than the healthy side), or there is a bend (the leg that should be straight looks bent compared to the healthy side).
In some cases, a broken leg causes an emergency condition called compartment syndrome, which is the compression of blood vessels and nerves in the leg due to broken bones that can cause paralysis. Compartment syndrome is characterized by severe pain in the legs, tingling, cold and pale legs, and inability to move.
Reason
The most common cause of broken legs is injury. The most common causes are motorcycle accidents, car accidents, and falling from a height.
In addition, there are certain diseases that can cause bones to become brittle. Some of them are bone cancer, bone cysts, and osteoporosis. The existence of this disease causes broken legs to occur due to trivial matters. For example, a patient with osteoporosis can experience a broken leg just because his leg hit the stairs.
Broken legs can also occur due to other reasons. For example, when someone does excessive sports, such as when running a marathon.
Diagnosis
At the initial examination of a broken leg, the doctor will collect information about the injury that caused the fracture. The doctor will also perform an examination on the sick leg and compare it with the condition of a healthy leg.
If there is a strong indication of a broken leg, an X-ray examination of the broken leg is very necessary. The purpose is to find out the type of leg fracture that occurs.
Treatment
As first aid in the event of a broken leg, here are the things that should be done:
- Resting the legs
As much as possible, avoid any effort to move the legs. The purpose is not to aggravate the pain and worsen the bone damage that occurs.
- Cold compresses
To reduce pain and inflammation, apply cold compresses with cold water or ice to the area of the broken leg.
- Leg splints
Do leg splints so that the fracture is prevented and does not experience movement that can injure the tissue in the leg.
If there is a shift in the position of the bone, then the doctor will perform an operation to improve the position of the bone so that it is straight again. The operation that is generally performed is ORIF ( open reduction internal fixation ). The action is done by inserting a type of metal into the bone to make the fracture in a straight position so that it can connect perfectly. Under normal conditions, the bones will connect perfectly within 3–6 months.
Prevention
To prevent susceptibility to leg fractures, strengthen bones by consuming foods high in calcium – such as milk, yogurt, or cheese. If calcium intake is low, meet the needs by consuming calcium and vitamin D supplements.
Do more athletic activities that help increase bone density, such as walking and weight training. Also, try to do outdoor activities in the morning at 06.00-08.00. At that time the body will get enough exposure to vitamin D from sunlight. When you do activities that require a lot of movement, use good and accurate athletic shoes so that movement is more ergonomic, free, and safe.