Moving to the Toilet with a Leg Fracture

Choosing the appropriate method for moving to the toilet with a leg fracture depends on the severity of the fracture and the fixation method. Details are as follows:

If the fracture is mild and does not affect normal walking, you can go to the toilet on your own. When using the toilet in the bathroom, pay special attention to protecting the affected limb, avoiding stress on the injured area, and preventing fracture displacement or aggravated injury due to improper stress.

If one lower limb has a mild fracture with no significant displacement, you can use protective gear for assistance. Use crutches or a walker to assist with walking and complete bowel movements on the toilet. When using crutches or a walker, follow the correct method to ensure body balance and prevent falls.

For patients who are unable to squat, it is necessary to adjust the toilet position and posture. Prioritize using a toilet or commode and install handrails beside the toilet or use a portable commode chair. When moving from a standing to a sitting position, hold the handrail with the healthy hand, keep the affected leg straight, and slowly move the body backward to sit down. If using a squat toilet, prepare a portable commode chair to avoid squatting directly and prevent aggravating the injury to the fracture site.

During movement, you can use assistive tools to complete the movement. When using a walker or double crutches to assist with walking, follow the principle of 'the affected limb not touching the ground'. When standing up from a sitting position, first move the body to the front edge of the seat, retract the healthy leg, support the handrail or walker with both hands, use the healthy leg to exert force to stand up, and keep the affected leg straight. If the upper limb strength is insufficient, family members can wrap their arms around the patient's waist from behind to assist in standing up, but avoid pulling the affected limb to prevent secondary injury.

If the fracture is severe and requires bed rest and local immobilization, you can use a bedpan. Place the bedpan on the bed, remove it and clean it after defecation, keep the skin dry, and prevent pressure sores. When using a bedpan, ensure that it is placed steadily to avoid scratching the skin.