Leg Injuries

According to the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, 14.5 percent of the over 118 million visits to emergency rooms in the United States in 2007 were for leg injuries, however, the survey did not disclose any additional details about the injuries. Injury prevention, allocation of resources, and training priorities would all benefit from a more precise categorization of leg injuries that drive patients to emergency rooms.

Leg Injury Types

• Fracture. A broken bone is referred to as a fracture in medical terms. The tibia is the most commonly broken bone in the leg. In the lower half of the leg, the tibia is the biggest bone. Patients who have fractures are unable to walk or bear weight.
• Dislocation. When a bone is dragged out of its joint, this occurs. A dislocated kneecap is the most frequent one in the leg.
• Sprains. Sprains are ligament tensions and breaks. The most frequent ligament injury in the leg is a sprained ankle. It's frequently caused by inward twisting of the ankle. A twisted ankle is another name for it. The pain and swelling on the outside of the ankle are the most common symptoms.
• Strains. Strains are muscle stretches and breaks (a pulled muscle)
• Muscle overuse. Muscle discomfort can occur even if there has been no injury to the muscle. There is no direct impact or fall. Sports or workouts can cause muscle overuse problems. Running up hills causes shin splints in the lower leg.
• Muscle and bone bruise. The discomfort of bleeding into the quads (thigh muscles) and bones is excruciating.
• Skin injury. A laceration, abrasion, scratch, or bruise are examples. Leg injuries are common in all of these ways.