Four Possible Complications Of A Broken Leg
If you have broken one of your leg bones, then the treatment you will be getting is not just geared towards fusing the broken bones. There are serious complications that may arise if you don't treat the injury promptly. Here are four examples of such complications:
1. Osteomyelitis
This is a bone infection caused by fungi or bacteria (such as Staphylococcus aureus). It develops when germs enter the bones via the point of breakage. The microorganisms can originate from your bloodstream or, if the fracture is open, from the external environment.
Typical symptoms of the infection include nausea, fever, tenderness and swelling around the broken bone. Treatment involves surgical removal of the infected bones and a strong dosage of antibiotic medicines.
2. Acute Compartment Syndrome
Your broken leg may damage the surrounding tissues and cause them to swell. When this happens, and your muscles develop high internal pressures, then you are said to be having a compartment syndrome. It is a very painful condition that may even disable the affected muscles.
Acute compartment syndrome is dangerous because the high pressure restricts blood flow to the affected area. This causes your tissues (muscles, as well as nerves) suffer from decreased oxygen and nourishment. Symptoms include muscle tightening, intense pain, tingling sensation and numbness. Surgery is the only viable treatment option.
3. Nerve/Blood Vessel Damage
Blood vessel or nerve damage is one of the most common broken leg complications. The risk increases with the severity of the fracture; a severe fracture results into serious bone intrusions into adjacent tissues. The symptoms and treatment depend on which vessel or nerve is injured, but numbness and surgery are common factors.
4. Arthritis
Arthritis is one of the possible long-term complications of broken legs. It usually develops long after the breakage when the broken leg has fused. The probability of developing osteoarthritis due to a broken leg is great if the fractures extend into a joint. It may also develop if proper healing does not take place. This is one of the reasons you are supposed to contact an orthopedic if a broken bone starts to feel painful years after the initial treatment.
It is clear from the above discussions that broken leg bones need professional treatment. If you try to treat your broken leg at home, you may "succeeded" only for it to develop complications later on. Complications aside, you also decrease your chances of perfect bone fusion the longer you delay treatment. To learn more, visit Jon B. Greenfield MD.
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