Leg Injury : Fractures and Contusions

This section will deal with injuries to the leg. The leg is defined as that portion between the knee and the ankle. The tibia is the most commonly fractured long bone in the body. The leg is comprised of two long bones know as the TIBIA and FIBULA. Isolated fractures of the fibula, excluding ankle fractures, are rare. The tibia supports 5/6th's ofthe body's weight, and is subject to injury due to its location, and relatively scant muscle coverage. Injury to the leg can be caused by a direct blow to the leg or, indirectly, by twisting or compressive forces. Evaluation will include examination of the extremity for point tenderness, swelling, deformity, or crepitation. All of these indicate the presence of a fracture. Localized pain, with the inability to bear weight on the leg, is a good indicator of fracture. Contusions usually result in swelling and pain to the injured area, lacking deformity, crepitation, or inability to bear weight. Close examination for nerve and blood vessel integrity is crucial. Pulses, sensation, and movement of all muscle groups must be tested. Leg fractures, due to their likelihood for displacement (fracture fragments are not aligned) and angulation (a "bend" to the fracture site), can result in injuries to adjacent blood vessels and nerves. Bone x-rays will reveal the fracture type and aid the physician in deciding which treatment is most appropriate. Treatment of a leg injury depends on the x-ray findings. Contusions and minor fractures may be effectively treated with ice compresses, elevation, and rest. Acetaminophen, aspirin, or an anti-inflammatory (ibuprofen) are helpful in the management of pain. Fractures that are displaced or angulated will require some form of realignment. This may be accomplished "closed" (without surgery), consisting of immediate application of a cast or splint. The alternative is "open" realignment, which necessitates an operation to fixate the fracture site, using a stabilizing device (a pin or plate). A special (and serious) type of fracture is a COMPOUND fracture. In this case, the fracture site is exposed through a skin laceration. This is a serious injury, due to the fracture site's increased likelihood for bacterial contamination. Compound fractures are almost always surgical cases requiring aggressive wound cleansing with fixation of the fracture site. These patients are often given antibiotics intravenously before and after the operation. The Orthopaedic Surgeon is the expert in the management of leg fractures.

Hope this article will provide you information about leg Injury : fractures and contusions.


12 Hip Dislocation
12 Hip Fracture
12 Insect Stings and Spider Bites
12 Human and Animal Bites
12 Shoulder Injury Fracture
12 Toxic Inhalations and Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
12 Facial Injury Jaw Fracture and Dislocation
12 Kidney Injury
12 Knee Injury General Considerations
12 Knee Injury Contusion
12 Knee Injury Fracture
12 Knee Injury Sprain
12 Stab Wounds
12 Leg Injury Fractures and Contusions
12 Leg Injury Shin Splints
12 Lightning Injury
12 Oral and Tongue Injuries
12 Nasal Fracture or Contusion
12 Neck Injury General Considerations
12 Neck Injury Fracture
12 Neck Injury Spinal Cord Injury
12 Pelvic Bone Fracture
12 Puncture Wounds
12 Chest Injury Rib Fracture
12 Back Injury Sacrococcygeal Injury
12 Scorpion Bites
12 Abrasion Injuries
12 Shoulder Injury Clavicle Fracture
12 Shoulder Injury Strains and Sprains
12 Snakebite
12 Neck Injury Spinal Cord Injury
12 Abdominal Injury Ruptured Spleen
12 Foot Injury Toe Fracture and Sprain
12 Vaginal or Vulvar Injury
12 Drowning and Near Drowning

INJURIES

Abdominal Injury
Abdominal Injury: Contusion
Abrasion
Amputations
Animal Bites
Ankle Fracture
Ankle Injury
Ankle Injury: Contusion
Ankle Sprain
Back Injury
Back Injury : Sacrococcygeal Injury
Back Strain
Burns
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Chemical Burns
Chest Injuries
Chest Injury: Aortic Rupture
Chest Injury: Hemothorax
Chest Injury: Myocardial Contusion
Chest Injury : Pneumothorax
Chest Injury: Pulmonary Contusion
Chronic Back Pain
Clavicle Fracture
Compression Fractures
Contusions
Decompression Sickness
Disc Disease
Gunshot Wounds
Hand Injury: Fingertip Amputations
Head Injury
Liver Injury
Marine Stings
Muscle Strains
Rib Fracture
Ruptured Spleen
Shoulder Injury: A-C Separation
Spider Bites
Spinal Cord Injury
Sternum Fracture
Testicular Injury
Wrist Injury
hi Scuba Related Injuries
i Hand Injury Finger Amputaion
de Lecerations
de Cold Injury and Hypothermia
dd Dental Injury
xs Facial Injury
sdf Neck Injury
e Shoulder Injury Dislocation
e Ear Injury
ed Elbow Injury
de Elbow Injury Fracture
dfe Elbow Injury Nursemaids
ee Electrical Injury
de Eye Injury
ed Facial Injury General Considerations
fr Facial Injury Contusion
ed Hand Injury Finger Sprains
ded Fingernail and Toenail Injuries
dd Hand Injury Fractures
23 Head Injury Skull Fracture and Concussion
44 Chest Injury Myocardial Contusion
fde Heat Illness
ed Hest Injury Hemothorax
y Back Injury Disc Disease
;l High Altitude Illness


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