A lower extremity fracture is simply a fractured bone located in the lower part of the body, including your knees, legs, ankles and feet. Our specialists in Scottsdale and Glendale, AZ will further inspect your lower limb injury to determine how it will be repaired.
This is a break in the thigh bone just above the knee. Most often, the injury is the result of a car or motorbike accident, a fall from a height or from weak bones caused by osteoporosis. These types of fractures can also occur around total knee replacement implants.
This refers to a break in any of the bones that make up the knee joint, including the tibia (shin bone), the femur (thighbone) and the patella (kneecap). The kneecap tends to be the injury we see the most, usually from a fall onto the front of the knee.
The ankle is made up of three bones: the tibia (the bony bump on the inside of your ankle), the fibula (the bump on the outside of your ankle) and the talus (the bone that joins the shin to the foot). A break in any of these bones usually comes as a result of twisting or rolling the ankle.
Your feet and toes are amazingly made up of 26 total bones. Fractures to one (or more) of these bones are likely to happen with a high-impact trauma – such as a fall or car accident – or from repetitive stress.
Limb fractures in your lower extremities can cause pain, swelling and bruising. You’ll probably have trouble putting weight on the injured leg or foot. In extreme cases, the area may look noticeably misshapen, such as an odd bend or unnatural angle.
The lower extremity experts at Adelphi Orthopaedic in Arizona will put you through a thorough physical evaluation of the area, typically including an X-ray. After we’ve diagnosed a fracture, we may also have you undergo an MRIs or CT scan to get a better view of the extent of the damage or injury. From there, we’ll recommend the best course of action to get you back on the move.
If a fracture isn’t too severe, we can typically treat conservatively using casts, splints or braces and modified weight-bearing with crutches. We will follow you regularly to ensure the injury heals properly.
In the case of a severe break, surgery may be the best option. Depending on the type of fracture, our experts in Scottsdale and Glendale will look at using various types of hardware to hold the bones in place until they can heal. In most cases, we can send you home the same day as your surgery. You’ll likely need to avoid putting weight on the injury for a few weeks, using crutches or a wheelchair to get around. With a prescribed course of physical therapy, you’ll be up and around in no time.
