OVERVIEW Fractures (Broken Bones) of the thigh, knee and leg, are common from both minor and major accidents. These are incapacitating in the short term as they commonly require the use of crutches, casts and modifications of activities as well as time off work and driving restrictions. DESCRIPTION Lower limb fractures occur from either direct trauma or indirectly from forces applied to the limb (eg twisting injuries). The type of fracture depends on the size and direction of the injury to the limb. Condition Low energy injuries (such as falls from a standing height), usually result in less complex fracture patterns and less soft tissue injury. Typical symptoms of a fracture include: • Pain • Swelling • Deformity • Difficulty weight bearing/walking Lower energy injuries can be missed and may be passed off as ‘sprains’ or ‘strains’. If you have had an injury that is not responding to treatment, it is advisable to see your doctor and obtain X-Rays to rule out an occult fracture. Higher energy injuries (such as motorcycle and car crashes) typically fracture bones in multiple places, into smaller pieces, and commonly disrupt the soft tissues resulting in large amounts of bruising and swelling. These can be challenging to treat and frequently require surgery to restore the bones to their anatomical position to make healing quicker and your function better in the long term. TREATMENT The treatment of lower limb fractures requires careful tailoring to the individual patients demand and the type of fracture sustained. Non-operative treatment of lower limb fractures may involve: • Crutches • Braces • Plaster Casts • Orthotic Shoes • Activity Restriction • Physiotherapy Dr. Jain always encourages non-operative treatment whenever possible ,however many fractures do much better with surgical intervention as surgery can speed up recovery and improve the short and long term outcome. As there many different types of lower limb fractures, there are a large range of surgical options that can be used, these can include: • Plates + screws • Wires • Rods/Nails • External Fixators Sometimes a combination of these is used, and Dr. Jain will discuss the surgical plan with you pre-operatively. He uses the latest technology in minimally invasive percutaneous orthopedic trauma implants, to give you the best outcome possible with the least amount of scarring and soft tissue injury. After surgery, Dr. Jain will discuss your operation as well as plan your rehabilitation in line with your goals and expectations. He uses a highly qualified team of physiotherapists and rehabilitation specialists to get you back to your activities as quickly as possible. Dr. Jain has extensive experience treating fractures, he has completed Training at Cascais Hospital in Lisbon (Portugal, Europe) with world recognized leaders in Orthopedic Trauma Surgery, and has worked as an Orthopedic Joint Replacement & Trauma Consultant at Tata Hospitals. He routinely attends conferences and visits trauma centers worldwide to refine his skills and stay on top of the most recent advances in trauma surgery. He is also actively involved in various trauma research projects and regularly teaches junior doctors.