Leg Injuries and Disorders

Summary

Your legs are made up of bones, blood vessels, muscles, and other connective tissue. They are important for motion and standing. Playing sports, running, falling, or having an accident can damage your legs. Common leg injuries include sprains and strains, joint dislocations, and fractures (broken bones).

These injuries can affect the entire leg, or just the foot, ankle, knee, or hip. Certain diseases also lead to leg problems. For example, knee osteoarthritis, common in older people, can cause pain and limited motion. Problems in your veins in your legs can lead to varicose veins or deep vein thrombosis.

Specifics

• Achilles Tendon Rupture Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Broken Leg Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Buerger’s Disease Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Claudication Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Femur Shaft Fractures (Broken Thighbone) American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
• Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
• Leg Swelling Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Lymphedema Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Meralgia Paresthetica National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
• Night Leg Cramps Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Peripheral Arterial Disease and Claudication American Academy of Family Physicians
• Posterior Tibial Tendon Dysfunction American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
• Shin Splints Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Thrombophlebitis Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Tibia (Shinbone) Shaft Fractures American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
• Troyer Syndrome National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Diagnosis and Tests

• Ankle-Brachial Index Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Leg Problems American Academy of Family Physicians
• X-Ray Exam: Femur (Upper Leg) Nemours Foundation
• X-Ray Exam: Leg Length Nemours Foundation
• X-Ray Exam: Lower Leg (Tibia and Fibula) Nemours Foundation

Patient Handouts

• Blount disease Medical Encyclopedia
• Bowlegs Medical Encyclopedia
• Common peroneal nerve dysfunction Medical Encyclopedia
• Femoral nerve dysfunction Medical Encyclopedia
• Femur fracture repair – discharge Medical Encyclopedia
• Foot, leg, and ankle swelling Medical Encyclopedia
• Iliotibial band syndrome — aftercare Medical Encyclopedia
• Ischemic ulcers — self-care Medical Encyclopedia
• Knock knees Medical Encyclopedia
• Leg pain Medical Encyclopedia
• Shin splints – self-care Medical Encyclopedia
• Tarsal tunnel syndrome Medical Encyclopedia
• Venous insufficiency Medical Encyclopedia

Teenagers

• Blount Disease Nemours Foundation

Children

• Bowlegs and Knock-Knees American Academy of Pediatrics
• Growing Pains (For Parents) Nemours Foundation
• Growth Plate Injuries National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
• Intoeing American Academy of Family Physicians
• Knock Knees (Genu Valgum) (For Parents) Nemours Foundation
• Leg lengthening – series — Indications Medical Encyclopedia
• What a Pain! Kids and Growing Pains Nemours Foundation

Encyclopedia

• Charley horse Medical Encyclopedia
• Leg CT scan Medical Encyclopedia
• Leg lengthening and shortening Medical Encyclopedia
• Leg MRI scan Medical Encyclopedia
• Leg or foot amputation Medical Encyclopedia
• Skeletal limb abnormalities Medical Encyclopedia
• Venous ulcers — self-care Medical Encyclopedia

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Intermittent Claudication National Institutes of Health
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Leg Injuries National Institutes of Health
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Leg Length Inequality National Institutes of Health
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Leg Ulcer National Institutes of Health
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Muscle Cramp National Institutes of Health

Living With

• Mobility Aids: MedlinePlus Health Topic National Library of Medicine

Find an Expert

• National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

Journal Articles

• Leg injuries and disorders

Images

• Stasis Ulcer VisualDX

Related Issues

• What Are Sports Injuries? National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases