Broken Leg Surgery
Broken Leg Surgery. Among the various traumatic injuries that someone might sustain, bone fractures are some of the most common. There are many different bones in the body, and any of them could be broken in an auto accident. According to some of the statistics which have been released by the American Academy of Orthopedics:
- Close to seven million people seek medical care for fractures every year in this country.
- The average person breaks about two bones over the course of a lifetime.
- A wrist fracture (a fracture of the radius or ulna) is the most common type of fracture in people under the age of 75.
- The most common fracture in the elderly is a hip fracture.
- Of all of the different injuries that someone could sustain of the musculoskeletal system, bone fractures account for 16 percent of these injuries.
One fracture that people commonly overlook is a broken leg, or a fracture of the femur, tibia, or fibula. These three bones come together at the knee, which is a hinge joint that gives the leg its function. Sometimes, broken leg surgery is necessary.
When is Broken Leg Surgery Needed?
The first step following a broken leg is deciding whether or not surgery is necessary. Like many other bone fractures, a broken leg is diagnosed using imaging procedures. This could involve an x-ray, a CT scan, or even an MRI. Based on the imaging, the doctor will decide whether or not the bones have been displaced. If they have, then surgery will be needed to place these bones back to their proper spot.
What is Involved in the Surgery?
During the procedure, the doctor will take any bone fragments and place them back in their proper location. After this, the bones will need to be held in these positions while they heal. To make sure this happens, screws or plates could be attached to the bones to make sure that they do not shift from their proper anatomical location. Once this is done, the leg is closed up, and the limb is immobilized in a cast. Of course, this is all performed with the individual is asleep.
What is the Recovery Process Like?
Once the surgery is completed, physical therapy can begin. It may take a few weeks for the bones to heal, so people will likely be told not to bear weight on their leg as it heals. When the cast comes off, the muscles are going to be stiff because they haven’t been used in several weeks. Therefore, physical therapy is needed to rebuild this muscle strength. Exercises could involve a range of motion exercises, flexibility stretches, and weight-bearing activities.
In addition to physical therapy, it can be helpful to meet with a trained personal injury lawyer in Sacramento. A trained attorney has seen many accidents that have led to surgery for a broken leg. This can be a stressful process as the family grapples with not only the medical issues related to a broken leg but the logistical problems as well. Meeting with a caring legal professional is a good idea. You and your family might be entitled to compensation.
Watch YouTube Video: Limb Lengthening Physical Therapy Exercises – Femur Thigh Bone. This video provides a few physical therapy exercises for a broken leg after surgery.
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Sacramento Personal Injury Lawyers
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento Personal Injury Lawyer. A broken leg could require surgical repair. If you or a family member has suffered bone injuries in a car accident, call me at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400. I would be happy to offer friendly, free advice.
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Image Attribution: The image at the beginning of this page was seen first on Unsplash. The picture has been printed here with permission
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