Signs and Symptoms of Lower Extremity Injuries

Injuries that can be seen are labeled  signs. Some signs of lower extremity injuries are broken bones, dislocations, fingernail or toenail injuries, bruises, sprains in ligaments, and muscle strains. A sign of a broken bone is mainly a compound fracture in which the bone pierces the skin, allowing a person to physically see the break. Broken bones consist of cracked or fractured bones and here are many types of fractures which can occur in the leg such as simple, compound, greenstick, comminuted, and impacted.  A break in the bone that does not damage the surrounding tissues or skin is labeled a simple fracture. A greenstick fracture is most common in children where the bone is broken on one side but only bent of the other side. A comminuted fracture is defined as a break or splinter of the bone into more than two fragments. When the bone breaks into several pieces and has a curved or sloped pattern, it is known as an impacted fracture. Any of these fractures can happen in the femur, tibia, or fibula and symptoms of fractures include swelling, bruising, pain, deformity, and possibly loss of function. Another sign of injury to the lower extremities is a dislocation of a joint. A dislocation occurs when a bone has been moved or dislodged out of place. According to Orthoinfo.aaos.org, a hip dislocation occurs when the head of the thighbone is forced out of its socket. A person can also dislocate his or her knee, ankle, and toes. Dislocations are very painful and can result in immobilization in the designated area and if there is nerve damage, the person may lose feeling l. A sprain in a ligament occurs when the ligament is forced past its normal range allowing excessive movement. The symptoms of a sprain are pain, swelling, bruising, and reduced range of movement. A muscle strain typically is described as the “pulling” of a muscle as when a person “pulls” a muscle. The symptoms include redness, swelling, pain at rest and pain with movement, weakness in the muscle or tendon, and inability to use the muscle.  

References

Campagne, Danielle. "Overview of Fractures, Dislocations, and Sprains -   Injuries Poisoning." Merck Manuals Professional Edition. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Nov. 2015. Web.

Charrette, Mark. “Lower-Extremity Overuse Injuries: Primer on Causes and Corrections.” Dynamic Chiropractic. 33:10. Nov. 2015. Web.

Slobounov, Semyon. "Abnormal Balance as a Risk Factor for Injury." Injuries in Athletics: Causes and Consequences. New York: Springer, 2008. N. pag. Web.