Dr Sarah Jarvis is the Clinical Director of the Patient Platform, an active medical writer, broadcaster, and the resident doctor for BBC Radio 2.
Can you fly with a broken bone or fractured bone?
Breaking a bone is a painful process, but breaking or fracturing a bone before an exciting holiday can be even more heartbreaking.
If you’ve suffered a nasty injury that has resulted in a fractured or broken bone and are worried about your upcoming travel plans, you’ll be pleased to know that it is possible to fly with a broken bone.
However, before travelling, you’ll need confirmation from your healthcare professional that it's safe, and it is wise to consult your chosen airline for guidance. Your doctor or physio, and your airline, might offer advice or guidance about travelling that you'll need to consider before departing, which might mean you cannot take the trip you’ve planned.
PLEASE NOTE: For all intents and purposes, the terms 'fractured bone' and 'broken bone' are interchangeable. That means the same rules apply whether you've been told you have a broken or fractured bone.
How long does a broken bone take to heal?
When considering travelling with a broken bone, one thing to be aware of is what stage of the healing journey you’ll be at when your trip comes around.
Some minor fractures can be repaired within three weeks with the correct treatment. However, more severe breaks can take more than 10 weeks to recover from, especially if they require surgery. It depends entirely on the person and the nature of the injury itself.
If you’ve only recently sustained the injury but have a holiday booked, it’s worth finding out when you will fully recover. This is something your healthcare professional can advise you on.
It's also worth bearing in mind that even after your bone has healed, you may still have muscle weakness or pain. It’s difficult for a physiotherapist to predict a recovery date accurately, but they can give you a rough idea. This will help you plan and adapt your routines to cater for your travel arrangements in good time.
How long does swelling last after a broken bone?
When it comes to air travel, swelling is far from ideal. As well as cabin pressure, prolonged sitting can cause swelling in the legs, around the ankles, and in the feet. In most cases, this is fairly normal for most people – and shouldn’t be a concern.
However, after an initial bone fracture, the body responds with swelling around the break itself. This is most marked in the first week or two after an injury.
Can you fly with a cast?
Whether you can fly with a plaster cast depends on your airline and where the cast is located.
If you break a bone while you're on holiday or immediately before, your airline may require you to wait for at least 24 hours (48 hours for longer flights) before you fly. This is due to the risk of swelling after a plaster cast has been fitted, which can affect your circulation.
Sitting still for prolonged periods on a flight already slightly increases your risk of a potentially dangerous clot in the leg, called a DVT. If you have a newly fitted leg plaster cast and get swelling, this risk can increase further. Another condition you might be at risk of when flying with a cast is compartment syndrome, which occurs when increased pressure builds in the area the plaster cast covers.
READ MORE: Can I fly again after Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)?
Instead of travelling with a plaster cast, your doctor may recommend splitting your cast. This will relieve pressure and reduce the risk of complications. If you get your cast split, you’ll likely need to replace it when you arrive on holiday and might need it split again before your return flight.
Flying with a broken leg in plaster
Flying with a broken leg in plaster is possible, but it will depend on your cast and the accommodation you’ll need as to whether you can fly with a broken ankle or leg.
If you have a below-knee plaster and can bend your knee, you'll be able to sit in a normal seat. However, if your cast covers your knee, you'll need special seating arrangements. This may involve purchasing an extra seat from the airline and will likely mean you cannot sit near the emergency exits.
If you need to bring crutches on the plane for support during your trip, you’ll need to let the airline or tour operator know. It’s likely that they’ll be stored in the hold with all other luggage whilst flying. This is something you should confirm with your airline.
If you need a wheelchair, you should inform your airline as soon as possible. They can arrange a wheelchair and extra assistance at both ends if necessary, and there's usually no charge.
Flying with a broken arm in a cast
Generally, if you can remain comfortably seated and your seatbelt can be applied, as usual, flying with a broken arm in a cast shouldn’t be a problem.
The airline may be able to give you a seat next to an available one to ensure you’re as comfortable as possible for the duration of the flight.
This isn’t always guaranteed as a standard service, but if you don’t ask, you don’t get.
Flying with a broken neck or spine
A broken neck or spine is often a very severe injury and makes it very unlikely that you can fly. You’ll need to discuss it at length with your doctor, and not only consider whether you can travel, but also whether you’ll get the same enjoyment out of your trip if you do.
If your doctor does deem you can fly, you’ll still need to contact the airline to confirm you can travel with them under their internal policies and to ensure precautions are taken to prepare for your flight.
Travel insurance for a broken bone
Fractured and broken bones aren’t usually covered in a standard travel insurance policy. So, to ensure you’re fully covered, you’ll need to purchase a specialist travel insurance policy.
With Medical Travel Compared, you can access travel insurance for people with medical conditions in no time. We work with a variety of reputable providers so that you can always get the best price and coverage for your needs.
All you need to do is start our quick, easy application form today and find a specialist policy that suits you. We have a whole range of policies to choose from, including travel insurance for the over-50s with medical conditions, holiday insurance for pre-existing illness and holiday insurance for heart conditions, to name just a few.
Get a quoteFrequently Asked Questions about flying with broken and fractured bones
Yes, in most cases you can fly with a broken or fractured bone, but this depends on the severity and location of the break or fracture. The best thing to do is consult your doctor, who can advise on whether it is safe for you to fly.
The majority of airlines allow passengers to fly with a cast, but this may depend on when the cast was applied and whether it allows for swelling. Some airlines require additional medical clearance for recent injuries.
Most airlines recommend waiting 24-48 hours after a cast is applied for short flights and 48-72 hours for longer flights. This wait is to reduce the risk of swelling and circulation problems. Policies can vary, so it’s important to check with your airline directly.
Airlines can have restrictions on recent fractures due to things like cabin pressure, reduced movement and prolonged sitting, causing issues like pain and swelling.
Although splints, braces and soft casts tend to be more flexible than plaster casts, it is still worth consulting with your airline to ensure they are happy and can accommodate your needs.
Splints, braces, or soft casts are usually more flexible and allow for swelling, so airlines are often more accommodating. However, you should still inform the airline in advance, especially if mobility assistance is needed.