Manage A Broken Leg with Mount Sinai

In previous blogs, we at Mount Sinai’s Department of Rehabilitative Medicine have often focused on nuanced physical damage and therapy like ACL tears and rectifying damaged ligaments. This week,we are shifting our focus toward more serious damages: broken bones.

Your leg is comprised of four bones, the femur, patella, tibia, and fibula which work together alongside tendons and muscles to allow bending at the hip, knee and ankle. You won’t need to be told that you’ve broken something, a leg fracture or break is severely painful – and will likely be swollen or bruised. You will rarely be able to walk on it.

One of the key indicators of a broken bone in the leg is the leg being out of shape, oddly shaped, or differently shaped than before the incident. Likely, there will have been a crack when the leg was broken and the shock and pain of breaking your leg will likely cause you to feel faint, dizzy, or sick.

Unfortunately, as with many broken bones – you need to immediately make your way to a local A&E department. If the injury seems severe, call for an ambulance service. While you are on your way there are three key points you should always bear in mind.

Movement – stay put and do not move the injured leg unless absolutely necessary. Avoid moving the leg as much as possible by keeping it straight or wedging it with a soft object like a cushion.

DIY – do not attempt to realign or fix the bones yourself, and do not let a friend or passer-by attempt at doing so either. Seek professional attention immediately to avoid long term problems and worsening the situation.

Plastering – attempt to cover wounds with sterile dressing and any clean item you might have on your person (like a clean t-shirt). This will ensure that the wound has the best chance of avoiding infection.

When you arrive to your doctor, they will most likely give you painkillers and may fix a splint to your leg. This will secure it into position and prevent further damage. If the bone is broken, but still in position, you will most likely be recommended a plaster cast which will hold the damaged area together until healed. Large amounts of swelling will mean that you will need to wait a few days until your cast is fitted.

In severe cases, surgery will be required to ensure that the bones heal properly and are fully realigned. This is especially important if you play sports.

If you, or a friend, has damaged or broken a bone in their leg recently and would like to discuss a physio plan – please contact our switch board on (212) 241-6321 to discuss options.