A broken leg can be simply a painful injury, or a life-threatening emergency. Learning how to recognize a broken leg, and knowing what to do in case of one, will go a long way should you find yourself in this situation.
Broken Leg Signs and Symptoms
These include:
- Pain (in nearly every case)
- Bruising
- Swelling
- Deformity (leg appears crooked)
- Tingling or numbness
- Limited leg mobility
- Skin is broken by splintered bone
What To Do With a Broken Leg
1. If you think that you or someone else has a break above the knee, call emergency services immediately. Otherwise, continue with the below instructions.
2. Make sure the person with the broken leg is in a safe place. That is, away from oncoming traffic, falling debris, etc. Their safety takes higher priority than treating the leg. Lay the person on their back to reduce the risk of shock.
3. Check ABCs. Make sure the victim has an Airway, that they’re Breathing, and has circulation throughout their body. Remember that broken legs often look worse than they really are.
4. Control the bleeding. If the victim is bleeding from their injuries, do what you can to control it.
5. Look for additional injuries to treat. If they have head, neck, or back injuries, do not move them. This could cause further damage. The only time you should move them is if you’re moving them to safety.
6. If an ambulance is on the way, have the victim stay still and wait for it to arrive. If there isn’t an ambulance available, you may need to splint the leg. However, you shouldn’t try to straighten a bent leg by yourself. Otherwise, immobilize the ankle, knee and hip joints. Don’t wrap the leg too tightly. If possible, elevate the leg so it’s above the person’s heart.
7. Ice the leg to reduce any swelling, placing a piece of cloth between the ice and skin to avoid frostbite. Ice the injury for fifteen minutes, then take it off for fifteen minutes.
The most important thing to remember is to remain calm so that you can think clearly. In a broken leg emergency, contact 24 hour urgent care Cypress TX immediately.