Broken leg

Read about the signs of a broken leg, what you should do if you think someone has broken their leg, how a broken leg is treated and how long it takes to recover.

A broken leg (leg fracture) will be severely painful and may be swollen or bruised. You usually won't be able to walk on it.

If it's a severe fracture, the leg may be an odd shape and the bone may even be poking out of the skin.


What to do

If you think you or someone else has broken their leg, go immediately to your nearest accident and emergency (A&E) department. Call 999 for an ambulance if the injury seems severe or you're not able to get to A&E quickly.

While you make your way to A&E or wait for an ambulance:

  • avoid moving the injured leg as much as possible – keep it straight and put a cushion or clothing underneath to support it
  • don't try to realign any bones that are out of place
  • cover any open wounds with a sterile dressing, a clean cloth or a clean item of clothing – maintain direct pressure on the wound if it keeps bleeding

If the person is pale, cold and sweaty (in shock), lie them down and carefully rest their legs above the level of their heart to improve their blood flow. When raising the broken leg, ensure it's kept straight and supported by a cushion. Keep them warm and calm until you can get medical help.

How a broken leg is treated


First, a doctor will give you painkillers and may fix a splint to your leg to secure it in position and prevent further damage. For severe pain, you may be given painkilling gas through a face mask or medication through a drip into a vein. An X-ray is often necessary to assess the fracture.

If the broken bone is still in position, you'll usually just need a plaster cast. This holds the bone in place so it can heal. If there's a lot of swelling, you may just have a splint or cast around the back half of your leg until the swelling goes down. A full cast can be fitted a few days later.

You may be provided with painkillers to take home and information on how to look after your cast. Read more about how to look after your plaster cast.


If the bones are misaligned, a doctor or surgeon may need to put them back into place. This is known as "reduction".

Sedatives are sometimes provided before the procedure and local or regional anaesthetic is used to numb the site of the break. In some cases a general anaesthetic is needed (which means you’ll be asleep during the procedure).



Severe fractures are often treated with surgery to realign and fix the broken bones. Surgeons can fix bones with metal wires, plates, screws or rods. Plates, screws and rods will usually be left in place permanently unless they become a problem, whereas wires will be removed 4-6 weeks after the operation.


After surgery, a plaster cast may be applied to protect the leg (see above).

Follow-up appointments

An appointment will be made for you to attend a fracture clinic so specialist orthopaedic doctors can monitor your fracture. The first appointment is usually booked for a week or two after you're discharged from hospital.

Severe fractures will usually heal within three to six months, but may require follow-up appointments every few months for a year or more afterwards. Further X-rays are often necessary to check how well your leg is healing.

Recovering from a broken leg

You'll be given advice by your doctor about how much you should move your leg and when you can put weight on it.

It takes around six to eight weeks for a minor fracture to heal. You'll probably need to use crutches or a wheelchair during this time, until it's possible to put weight on the leg again. You'll be shown how to safely use any mobility equipment you're provided with.

More severe fractures can take between three and six months to fully heal. Some can take even longer.


Don't try to rush your recovery by returning to your normal activities too quickly, as the broken bone may not be fully healed even when the pain has gone. Follow the advice of your doctor, who'll probably recommend gradually increasing how much you use your leg over time.

You shouldn't drive while in a cast. Seek advice from your doctor about when you can drive again.

Possible complications

For most people, a broken bone will heal within a few months and there won't be any further problems.

However, complications can sometimes occur. These include:

  • Damaged muscle, nerves or blood vessels around the fracture – this can occur during the initial injury or during surgery. It may lead to loss of movement or feeling, or may affect the blood supply to the limb.
  • Bone infection – this is more likely if surgery is performed or the broken bone stuck out of the skin. It can significantly delay healing and will often require treatment with antibiotics and/or surgery.
  • Compartment syndrome – a painful and potentially serious condition caused by bleeding or swelling within a bundle of muscles. This can occur soon after a fracture, after the plaster cast has been applied or after surgery. Emergency surgery will usually be needed to relieve the build-up of pressure in your leg.

Occasionally, a further operation may be needed if the bone doesn't heal properly. This can happen if the bone doesn't align properly during surgery, you put too much weight on the bone before it heals, the fracture is severe, if you have diabetes or you smoke during your recovery.

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