Adult Skin Problems Slideshow Pictures Gallery of Skin Problems and Image Collection

Medical Author:

Samuel M Keim, MD

Coauthor:

Dominic Connolly, MD

Medical Editor:

Brian F Chinnock, MD

Medical Editor:

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD

Medical Editor:

Jerry R. Balentine, DO, FACEP

Jerry R. Balentine, DO, FACEP

Dr. Balentine received his undergraduate degree from McDaniel College in Westminster, Maryland. He attended medical school at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine graduating in1983. He completed his internship at St. Joseph's Hospital in Philadelphia and his Emergency Medicine residency at Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center in the Bronx, where he served as chief resident.

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Broken Leg Symptoms

The major symptoms of a broken leg are pain, swelling, and deformity. A broken leg can be very obvious but may require an x-ray to diagnose.

• Pain caused by a broken bone is typically severe. Holding the bone still will decrease pain. Movement of the broken bone will increase pain.
  
  
• Swelling and bruising over the area of a break are common.
  
  
  • Deformity of the leg can occur in these forms:
    
    
  • Shortening: The broken leg appears shorter than the unaffected leg.
    
    
  • Rotation: The leg below the break is twisted.
    
    
  • Angulation: The leg bends at the break instead of at the joint.