A more complicated break might require surgery to realign the broken bone and to implant wires, plates, nails or screws to maintain proper alignment during healing.įractures are classified into one or more of the following categories: However, the bone may require realignment (reduction) in the emergency room. A simple break may be treated with a sling, ice and rest. Treatment depends on the site and severity of your injury. Occasionally, your doctor may also recommend another scan, such as an MRI, to obtain more detailed images. Then, your provider is likely to order X-rays to determine the severity of the fracture and pinpoint the location of the break. It’s important to treat a fracture as soon as possible to ensure proper healing.įirst, you’ll discuss any symptoms you're having and explain how you injured yourself while the provider examines your injury. Joints may feel “stiff” from not using them.Ī period of rehabilitation that involves exercises and gradually increasing activity will be required before the affected tissues will perform their functions normally and the healing process is complete.If you think you or your child has broken a bone, seek prompt medical attention. Even after the cast or brace is removed, limitation in activity levels may be required until the bone is solid enough to use in normal activity.īy the time the bone is strong enough, the muscles will be weak because they have not been used. Pain usually stops long before the fracture is solid enough to handle the stresses of normal activity. This depends on the complexity of the injury, the bone that is broken, the age of the patient and whether or not the patient follows the medical advice! Recovery and Rehabilitationįractures take between several weeks to several months to heal. Internal fixation methods hold the broken pieces of bone in proper alignment with metal plates, pins, or screws while the bone is healing. Comminuted fracture, this is where the fracture that results in three or more bone fragments.Ĭasts, splints, plates, screws pins, or other devices are utilised to hold a fracture in the correct position (alignment) while the bone is healing.Įxternal fixation methods include plaster and fibreglass casts, cast-braces, splints, and other devices.Greenstick fracture, this is where the fracture is on one side of the bone only, with a bend on the other side of the bone.Transverse, Oblique, Spiral fracture, this describes the pattern of the fracture. Any fracture where there is a wound must be treated as if it were open. The bone may or may not be visible in the wound. Where the skin may be pierced by the bone or by a blow that breaks the skin at the time of the fracture. Closed fracture, where the bone is broken, but the skin is not pierced.There are a number of different terms used to describe fractures. These may require special scans to confirm. Stress fractures are more difficult to diagnose and may not immediately appear on an X-ray however, there may be pain, tenderness and mild swelling. Sometimes a part of the bone may puncture through the skin.Īn X-ray will usually confirm the diagnosis. tenderness and swelling around the fracture,.These are common among athletes.Ī fracture is usually immediately obvious: Finally, overuse sometimes can result in stress fractures.Weakening of the bones such as with Osteoporosis is another common cause of fractures whereby the bones become weak and are easily broken.Trauma accounts for most fractures, for example, a fall, a motor vehicle accident or a injury during contact sport.Fractures can happen in a variety of ways, but there are three common causes.
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