Broken Leg
Introduction
A broken leg (leg fracture) will be severely painful and may beswollen or bruised. You usually won't be able to walk on it.
If it's a severe fracture, the leg may be an odd shape and the bone may even be poking out of the skin.
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.
Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 4 Jan 2017
Introduction
Read about the signs of a broken leg, what you should do if you think someone has broken their leg, how a broken leg is treated and how long it takes to recover.
What to do
If you think you or someone else has broken their leg, go immediately to your nearest accident and emergency (A&E) department . Call 999 for an ambulance ifthe injuryseems severeor you're not able
How a broken leg is treated
Immobilisation First, a doctor will give you painkillers andmayfix a splint to your leg to secure it in position and prevent further damage. For severe pain, you may be given painkillinggas through a
Follow-up appointments
An appointment will be made for you to attend a fracture clinic so specialist orthopaedic doctors canmonitor your fracture. The first appointment is usually booked for a week or two after you're disch
Recovering from a broken leg
You'll be given advice by your doctor about how much you should move your leg and when you can put weight on it. It takes around six to eight weeks for a minor fracture to heal. You'll probably need
Possible complications
For most people, a broken bone will heal within a few months and there won't be any further problems. However,complications can sometimes occur. These include: Damaged muscle, nerves or blood vess
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