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A broken leg is a fracture in any of the three bones in your leg. Providers sometimes call it a fractured leg. Your leg bones are strong, so it usually takes severe trauma to break them. You may need surgery and will need to wear a cast while your leg heals. It usually takes at least a few months for broken legs to heal.
A broken leg is a bone fracture (broken bone) in your leg. Healthcare providers also call broken legs fractured legs.
There are three bones in your leg, including your:
Severe traumas (like a car accident or falling off a roof) can break all three of your leg bones at the same time. It’s also common to break your tibia and fibula during the same injury.
You might need surgery to repair a fractured leg, especially if you break your femur. Some people can recover without surgery and only need a splint or cast. You’ll need physical therapy to regain your leg’s strength and ability to move.
In addition to saying which of your leg bones is broken, a healthcare provider will assign the fracture a type or classification.
Providers classify some fractures by the break’s shape or pattern:
Some types of fractures are classified by how they happen:
For example, you might have a transverse femur fracture or a segmental tibia fracture. All of the different names and types are ways for your provider to quickly and specifically say which bone is broken, and what the injury did to it.
The femur is the biggest and strongest bone in your body, and usually, only severe traumas can break it. Experts estimate that fewer than 30 in every 1,000 people worldwide break a femur each year.
Tibia and fibula fractures are some of the most common long bones people break. It’s very rare for someone to break their fibula on its own. Fibula fractures almost always happen at the same time as tibia fractures.
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Most broken legs will look visibly different than usual. You’ll probably notice swelling, discoloration or bruising near the fracture that spreads (radiates) to the area around it. There will probably also be a bump you can feel or see. You might also be able to see bone poking through your skin.
The most common symptoms of a fractured leg include:
Go to the emergency room right away if you’ve experienced trauma or think you have a broken bone.
Traumas almost always cause broken legs. The most common causes include:
Anyone can break their leg, but some people are more likely to, including:
People with osteoporosis or osteopenia are much more likely to experience bone fractures, especially from falls. Osteoporosis weakens bones, making them more susceptible to sudden and unexpected fractures. Many people don’t know they have osteoporosis until after it causes them to break a bone. There usually aren’t obvious symptoms.
A healthcare provider will diagnose a broken leg with a physical exam and some imaging tests. Providers in the emergency room might diagnose the fracture if you’re taken to the ER after a trauma like a car accident.
You’ll need at least one of a few imaging tests to take pictures of the fracture:
How your provider treats a broken leg depends on which bone is broken and if you have any other injuries.
If the fracture is mild and your bones didn’t move far out of place (a non-displaced fracture), you might only need a cast or splint. How long you’ll need to wear one depends on which type of fracture you have. Most people need a cast for several weeks. You’ll need follow-up X-rays to make sure your bones are healing correctly.
Some fractured legs require surgery — broken femurs almost always do.
The most common surgery is an open reduction with internal fixation. Your surgeon will realign (set) your bone to its correct position and then secure it in place so it can heal and grow back together. They usually perform what’s called an internal fixation, which means your surgeon inserts metal plates, screws or pins into your bone to hold it in place while it heals.
You might live with these pieces inserted in your bone forever. Some people need follow-up surgery to remove them.
Fracture surgery complications are rare, but can include:
You may not be able to prevent a broken leg, especially because traumas you can’t plan for cause them. You might be able to reduce your risk of injuries by following these general safety tips:
How long it takes your leg to heal depends on a few factors:
Most broken legs need at least a few months to heal. Talk to your provider or surgeon about a timeline that fits your specific situation.
Even after your bone is healed, it might take a while before you’re fully recovered and able to resume all your usual activities. How long it takes depends on which of your leg bones is broken.
Most people who break their legs need several months of physical therapy. A physical therapist will help you regain your strength and range of motion (how far you can move your leg). Your provider or surgeon will tell you what to expect.
It can take up to a year to recover from a broken femur. It usually takes less time to recover from a tibia and/or fibula fracture.
Ask your provider when you can resume physical activities. You’ll need to move your leg to prevent stiffness as you heal, but don’t start playing sports, working out or using your leg for intense physical activities before your provider says it’s safe.
Go to the emergency room right away if you think you have a fractured leg, including any of the following symptoms:
Questions you can ask your provider include:
Breaking a bone in your leg is a serious injury. Any trauma that’s severe enough to break bones in your leg can cause other, potentially life-threatening injuries.
It’s extremely important to go to the emergency room right away if you think you have a broken leg. The sooner your injury is diagnosed and treated, the more likely it is to heal properly. Talk to your provider or surgeon about what to expect.
You can’t stand, walk or put weight on your leg with a broken femur or tibia.
Some people with a broken fibula can still walk because it isn’t a weight-bearing bone (it doesn’t support your body weight when you stand and move). But because it’s rare to break your fibula on its own, you shouldn’t try to walk or use it.
Your provider or surgeon will show you how to safely stand, walk and move while you’re wearing a cast or after surgery.
A note from Cleveland Clinic
Broken legs can be scary, intense injuries. You’ll probably need to adjust to standing and moving differently for at least a few months while you’re recovering. That time is worth it. Most leg fractures heal very well without long-term consequences.
Physical therapy is a long, hard process. Take time to celebrate your progress and be proud of each step on your recovery journey.
Ask your healthcare provider or surgeon how to take care of your cast if you need one. They’ll give you tips on doing everyday activities like bathing and getting dressed.
Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 01/23/2024.
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Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy