Leg Care

Treatment of a broken leg will vary, depending on the type and location of the break. Stress fractures may require only rest and immobilization, while other breaks may need surgery for best healing. Fractures are classified into one or more of the following categories:

Open fracture. In this type of fracture, the skin is pierced by the broken bone. This is a serious condition that requires immediate treatment to decrease the chance of an infection.

Closed fracture. In closed fractures, the surrounding skin remains intact.

Complete fracture. In complete fractures, the bone has broken into two or more parts.

Displaced fracture. In this type of fracture, the bone fragments on each side of the break are not aligned. A displaced fracture may require surgery to realign the bones properly.

Greenstick fracture. In this type of fracture, the bone cracks but doesn't break all the way through — like when you try to break a green stick of wood. Greenstick fractures are more likely to occur in children because a child's bones are softer and more flexible than those of an adult.