[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2020\/09\/open-leg-fracture\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2020\/09\/open-leg-fracture\/","headline":"Open (Compound) Leg Fracture: Treatment and Recovery","name":"Open (Compound) Leg Fracture: Treatment and Recovery","description":"While breaking a bone sounds straightforward, there are actually many different ways a bone can break. An open\u00a0fracture, also called a\u00a0compound\u00a0fracture, can occur through\u00a0a simple fall,\u00a0playing a sport, being in a car accident, or any other high-impact event.\u00a0 What Is\u00a0an Open\u00a0Leg Fracture? An open or\u00a0compound\u00a0bone fracture\u00a0is a break in which the bone pierces the skin. […]","datePublished":"2020-09-04","dateModified":"2023-02-22","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/orthopaedics-regions","name":"UPMC Orthopaedic Care","url":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/orthopaedics-regions","sameAs":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/orthopaedic-surgery\/","parentOrganization":"UPMC"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"UPMC HealthBeat","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/iStock-1159293076-1.jpg","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/iStock-1159293076-1.jpg","height":325,"width":754},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2020\/09\/open-leg-fracture\/","about":["Health Topics A-Z","Orthopaedics"],"wordCount":505,"articleBody":"While breaking a bone sounds straightforward, there are actually many different ways a bone can break. An open\u00a0fracture, also called a\u00a0compound\u00a0fracture, can occur through\u00a0a simple fall,\u00a0playing a sport, being in a car accident, or any other high-impact event.\u00a0What Is\u00a0an Open\u00a0Leg Fracture?An open or\u00a0compound\u00a0bone fracture\u00a0is a break in which the bone pierces the skin. Because this type of fracture opens the skin, exposing the wound to dirt and bacteria, it can be more complicated to treat.\u00a0An open\u00a0leg fracture can occur in\u00a0any of the leg bones,\u00a0but\u00a0most commonly\u00a0in\u00a0the femur, tibia, or fibula. The fracture can vary in severity depending on the amount of force that causes the injury. More intense fractures may affect nearby nerves, arteries, or muscles\u00a0and cause the bone to fragment.\u00a0You have a\u00a0greater risk of\u00a0sustaining\u00a0an open\u00a0leg fracture if you have weaker bones or a condition like\u00a0osteoporosis,\u00a0if you\u00a0play high-risk\u00a0sports, or\u00a0if you\u00a0are involved in high–energy trauma.\u00a0Open\u00a0Leg Fracture TreatmentYour doctor will use an X-ray\u00a0and\/or CT scan\u00a0to help determine the\u00a0severity\u00a0of the fracture and the necessary treatment. Since this type of fracture has a high risk of infection, immediate treatment is key. In most cases, an\u00a0open\u00a0fracture requires surgical cleaning of the injury no more than 24 hours after it occurs.\u00a0Your doctor\u00a0will typically\u00a0prescribe you antibiotics.\u00a0You may need to stay in the hospital for several days or more.\u00a0In most cases, the doctor\u00a0will\u00a0need to use\u00a0rods,\u00a0pins, screws, or metal plates to help hold the bone in place to heal. Since a fracture can also damage the surrounding\u00a0skin,\u00a0muscles, nerves, and arteries, the doctor will work to repair\u00a0other\u00a0tissue damage\u00a0as well.\u00a0Sometimes this requires multiple surgical procedures. In severe cases,\u00a0this will require consultation with a plastic surgeon and\/or vascular surgeon.\u00a0Following surgery,\u00a0open\u00a0leg fracture treatment\u00a0may\u00a0include stabilizing the fracture with a brace, splint, or cast. Resting and elevating the fractured leg is important, especially in the early days following the injury.\u00a0Open\u00a0Leg Fracture RecoveryOpen\u00a0leg fractures can take\u00a0several\u00a0months to heal, depending on their severity. It may take longer to heal if multiple bones\u00a0are\u00a0affected, nerves\u00a0are\u00a0damaged, or if\u00a0you develop an infection. Fractures of the lower leg can take longer to heal because they don’t have as much surrounding soft tissue\u00a0or blood supply\u00a0to help speed the healing process.\u00a0Doctors generally suggest using\u00a0a wheelchair, walker, or\u00a0crutches to keep weight off the leg\u00a0while the bone heals.\u00a0Your doctor will often prescribe physical\u00a0therapy, an important\u00a0part of the recovery process. Specific movements and exercises\u00a0can\u00a0help strengthen muscles and maintain flexibility in the leg.\u00a0To learn more about\u00a0open\u00a0leg fractures, visit\u00a0UPMC Orthopaedic Care\u00a0or make an appointment by calling\u00a01-866-987-6784.\u00a0Editor's Note: This article was originally published on September 4, 2020, and was last reviewed on February 22, 2023."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2020","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2020\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"09","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2020\/\/09\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Open (Compound) Leg Fracture: Treatment and Recovery","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2020\/09\/open-leg-fracture\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]