What are the complications of leg fractures?

What complications may result from a leg fracture?

1. Swelling: Local swelling after trauma reaches its peak after 72 hours and then gradually subsides. After swelling, the affected limb should be raised, preferably above the heart level, and ice should be applied appropriately to promote swelling subsidence.

2. Plaster compression After simple fracture reduction and plaster fixation, plaster compression will occur due to the gradual increase in limb swelling, leading to obvious swelling, bruising, and numbness of the fingers, toes and other limb extremities. You should go to a medical institution in time to decompress the pressure and avoid limb compression necrosis.

3. Joint stiffness Long-term fixation of the affected limb leads to poor venous and lymphatic return, joint cavity serous fiber exudation and fibrin deposition, fiber adhesion, and contracture of the soft tissue around the joint, resulting in joint movement disorders. This is the most common complication of fractures and joint injuries. Timely removal of fixation and active functional exercise are effective ways to prevent and treat joint stiffness.

4. Muscle atrophy will occur once the body is immobilized or lacks exercise. The degree of muscle atrophy can be reduced through active muscle search. The specific method is: if the joints can move, you can do isometric muscle contraction, that is, muscle force but the limbs will not move and isometric contraction of muscle force and movement. If the joints are fixed, you can perform isometric contraction exercises.

5. Hypostatic pneumonia often occurs in patients with fractures who have been bedridden for a long time, especially those who are old, weak, or have chronic diseases and have comminuted fractures of the upper arm. Sometimes it can endanger the patient's life. Thinkers should be encouraged to get up as soon as possible.

6. Bedsores After a severe fracture, the patient is bedridden for a long time, the bone protrusions are compressed, and the local blood circulation is impaired, which can easily lead to bedsores. Common sites include bones, fractures, and heels.

7. Deep vein thrombosis of the lower limbs is more common in pelvic fractures or lower limb fractures. Long-term immobilization of the lower limbs, slow venous return, and high coagulation state caused by injury are prone to thrombosis. Exercise should be strengthened, and elastic socks, plantar venous pumps and other equipment should be used to prevent its occurrence.