What To Do If Your Leg Bone Breaks?

Breaking of a leg bone can also mean that the bone has cracked or it can also mean that the bone has broken into two parts. The most common symptom of a bone fracture is the shape of the leg getting distorted or a bulge appearing in the affected part. There can also be other symptoms, such as -

• Wounds on the leg. 
• Feeling unconscious or unwell after the injury. 
• Pain or difficulty in moving the leg.
• Pain in touching the injured place. 
• Difficulty in walking or not being able to walk properly.
• Difficulty in lifting weight. 
• Having a problem of dizziness after injury.

If someone around you has a fracture in his leg, then immediately call an ambulance and give him first aid in the following way until help arrives -

• First of all, keep in mind not to let the person's leg move at all, otherwise his nerves, tissues and blood vessels may get damaged. 
• Do not let the person stand at all and let him rest in the same position in which he is.
• Do not try to join or move the broken bone on your own, this can aggravate the problem.
• Immediately after the injury, apply cold compress on the affected area. Doing this will reduce pain and swelling. Keep in mind that do not apply ice directly on the skin, it can damage the skin. 
• In case of severe pain, painkillers available at medical stores can be taken, however it is advisable to talk to a doctor before taking any medicine.
• If the injury is causing bleeding, try to stop it. For this, lift the person's leg a little upwards and tie a bandage on the wound, but keep in mind that the bandage should not be too tight.

(Read more -First aid for fracture: what to do)

The following problems can occur when the bone of the leg breaks -

• Extreme pain 
• Lack of strength in the leg 
• Swelling
• Sound of bone breaking or scraping in the leg
• Pain on touching the affected area
• Difficulty in walking
• Bruises around the affected area 
• The leg looks bent or different
• The fractured leg looks shorter
• Unable to walk
• Pain increases on moving

(Read more - Fractured Wrist)

In severe cases of fracture, the broken bone starts coming out of the skin and due to the severe pain caused by it, the person may feel faint and dizzy.  If someone around you has a fracture in his leg, then immediately call the ambulance and give him first aid in the following manner until help arrives -

• First of all, ensure that the person's leg does not move at all. Not doing so can damage the tissues, nerves and blood vessels. 
• Put a pillow or cloth under the affected leg so that it can get support.
• To prevent the leg from moving, tie a straight object, such as an umbrella or a stick, to the straight leg of the person's leg. 
• Do not try to join the broken bone yourself, this can cause more damage.
• If there is bleeding due to the injury, then the most important thing is to stop the bleeding. 
• To stop bleeding, keep the leg slightly elevated and apply a bandage on the wound. 
• While lifting the leg, make sure that the leg remains straight and support it.
• Perform first aid for injury. 
• Swelling in the leg can cause many problems, so do not let the swelling happen. For this, lift the leg a little and tie a warm bandage on it. 
• If the person is in shock, make him lie down comfortably and raise his legs a little so that his blood flow can improve. 
• Try to keep the person warm. 
• Keep checking the person's leg until help arrives and see if the leg is discolored or cold. These symptoms mean that the blood flow in the leg is being blocked. In such a situation, it is essential to take the person to the hospital as soon as possible.

(Read more - Fractured Jaw)

Breaking of a foot or leg bone is an emergency situation, for which you must go to the doctor. Go to your doctor immediately or take the injured person to the hospital immediately if -

• There is a lot of bleeding. 
• The person is not responding.
• There is a lot of pain in walking. 
• The shape of the foot or leg seems abnormal or distorted.
• There is a deep wound at the site of injury.
• The person is having difficulty breathing or is not breathing. 
• You suspect that you or someone else has a fracture in the foot or leg.
• Pressing the bony parts of the foot or leg is causing pain. 
• The bone is coming out of the skin. 
• The person is not moving.
• The front part of the foot or toes are turning blue or there is tingling in them.

(Read more - Fractured Foot)

It is important to perform first aid immediately in case of a broken foot to reduce pain and damage. First, immobilize the foot and avoid moving it. Apply ice to the affected area to reduce any swelling, but do not place ice directly on the skin, always wrap it in a cloth. Painkillers recommended by the doctor can be taken to reduce pain. The injured person should avoid walking or putting pressure on the foot. After first aid, consult a doctor immediately and get an X-ray done to properly assess the condition of the bone. The bone may require plaster, splint or surgery to heal, which the doctor will prescribe. With proper treatment and rest, the bone in the foot can heal normally.