Bone can fracture crosswise, lengthwise, in several places, or into many pieces. Most fractures happen when a bone is impacted by more force or pressure than it can support. Most fractures are accompanied by intense pain when the initial injury occurs. It may become worse when you move or touch the injured area. In some cases, you may even pass out from the pain. You may also feel dizzy or chilled from shock. A closed fracture is also called a simple fracture.
An open fracture is also called a compound fracture. In an open fracture, the ends of the broken bone tear your skin. When your bone and other internal tissues are exposed, it puts you at higher risk of infection. In other words, it cracks without breaking all the way through.
Types of incomplete fracture include:. In a complete fracture, your bone breaks completely. Types of complete fracture include:.
Incomplete fractures are more common in children. Their bones are softer than those of adults. Complete fractures can happen at any age. You can develop a fracture when your bone is impacted with greater pressure or force than it can support. This force usually occurs suddenly or is very intense.
The strength of the force determines the severity of the fracture. Anyone can be experience a fracture. If you suspect you have a fracture, get medical attention immediately. Your doctor will likely ask you about your symptoms and perform a visual examination of the injured area.
They may ask you to move the area in certain ways to check for pain or other signs of injury. If they think you may have a fracture, your doctor will likely order X-rays. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons , X-rays are the most common method of fracture diagnosis. They can create images of your bone and reveal breaks or other signs of damage. X-rays also help determine fracture type and location. In some instances, your doctor may also order magnetic resonance imaging MRI or computed tomography scans CT or CAT scan to examine your bones or surrounding tissues.
In general, your doctor will try to put the broken bone pieces back into their proper positions and stabilize them as they heal. During the healing process, new bone will form around the edges of the broken pieces. Your doctor may use a cast to stabilize your broken bone.
Your cast will likely be made from plaster or fiberglass. It will help keep the injured area stabilized and prevent broken bone pieces from moving while they heal.
In rare cases, you may need traction to stabilize the injured area. See a healthcare provider any time you think you may have a broken bone. An open fracture one in which the bone comes through the skin so you can see it or a deep wound that exposes the bone through the skin is considered an emergency.
Get medical care right away for this type of fracture. Any injury to the bones of the spine is also a medical emergency. These cause severe back pain and may cause nerve problems. These include numbness, tingling, weakness, or bowel and bladder problems. Call if you think someone has a break in the bones of their spine. Skip to content. Fractures Not what you're looking for?
Start New Search. What is a fracture? Or a deep wound exposes the bone through the skin. Closed fracture simple fracture. The bone is broken, but the skin is intact.
Here is a list of types that may happen: Greenstick. This is an incomplete break. A part of the bone is broken, causing the other side to bend. The break is in a straight line across the bone. The break spirals around the bone. This is common in a twisting injury. The break is diagonal across the bone.
The bone is crushed. This causes the broken bone to be wider or flatter in appearance. The bone has broken into 3 or more pieces. Fragments are present at the fracture site. The same bone is broken in 2 places, so there is a "floating" piece of bone. The bone is broken near a tendon or ligament. A tendon or ligament pulls off a small piece of bone. What causes fractures? What are the symptoms of a fracture? Symptoms of a broken or fractured bone may include: Sudden pain Trouble using or moving the injured area or nearby joints Unable to bear weight Swelling Obvious deformity Warmth, bruising, or redness The symptoms of a broken bone may seem like other health conditions or problems.
How is a fracture diagnosed? Tests used for a fracture may include: X-ray. A diagnostic test that uses invisible electromagnetic energy beams to make pictures of internal tissues, bones, and organs on film. An imaging test that uses large magnets, radiofrequencies, and a computer to make detailed pictures of structures within the body.
CT scan. This is an imaging test that uses X-rays and a computer to make detailed images of the body. A CT scan shows details of the bones, muscles, fat, and organs.
How is a fracture treated? Most fractures will hurt, especially if you try to move or put weight on the injured bone. You should go to the emergency room if you suspect a fracture. Call an ambulance if you, or someone else, has multiple injuries or is unable to walk. Your doctor will examine you and check the area of the injury for mobility, and for possible damage to blood vessels or joints. Most fractures are diagnosed using an X-ray of the affected bone. Sometimes other tests besides X-rays may be needed to determine the extent of the fracture and associated damage.
Magnetic resonance imaging MRI or a bone scan can show more details if the fracture is small. An MRI can also show the soft tissue area around the bone, and may indicate injuries to surrounding muscles or tendons. A computed tomography scan CT or CAT scan can be used to provide a three-dimensional image in horizontal or vertical slices of the affected area.
This will show more of the detail of the fracture. Your doctor may also inject a dye into your arteries and then do a scan.
The dye can make it easier for your doctor to identify damage to blood vessels. Finally, if nerve damage is suspected, nerve conduction studies can be used to check for any damaged nerves. Your doctor will also ask how the injury occurred, when the pain started, and whether the pain has been getting worse. This will help your doctor decide whether to check for additional complications, such as a disruption of blood flow. The treatment for a fracture depends on the type of injury, the location of the injury, and its severity.
Bones heal themselves by producing new bone tissue to repair the fracture. The new bone is soft at first, and so it needs to be protected. Usually a fracture is immobilized to protect the new, soft bone tissue. Your doctor can immobilize the bone using options that include:. These devices can help keep the bone aligned while it heals. They also make it more difficult for you to accidently use the injured bone.
For a small bone like a finger or toe, the fracture can be immobilized by wrapping it with a soft wrap or a splint. The realignment may be done without surgery, and is called closed reduction. This often requires a local anesthetic and painkillers. Sometimes surgery will be required to reposition the injured bone. This is called open reduction. The surgeon may also need to insert the following into your bone to help surgically align the bone:.
Hip fractures almost always require surgery to promote faster and better healing. Some limb fractures may need traction, a gentle pulling of the muscles and tendons around the broken bone in order to realign the bone. The traction can be created with a system of weights and pulleys that are mounted on a metal frame over your bed. The healing time depends on the location and severity of the break. Your age and general health will also affect your recovery time.
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