What are fractures?
A fracture is a broken bone. Fractures may occur in any bone in your body, with the most common sites being the arms, legs, spine, hip, and pelvis. There are several forms of fractures, including:
Stable
A stable fracture occurs when the two bone sections still line up. A stable fracture is only very slightly out of place, and will commonly heal cleanly without surgical intervention.
Open
An open, or compound, fracture occurs when you have broken skin along with a broken bone. In the most severe cases, the bone may break through your skin.
Oblique
An oblique fracture is an angled break in the bone.
Comminuted
A comminuted fracture is a severe break in which the bone shatters into more than two sections.
All fractures require care, so it’s important to recognize fracture symptoms and come into Mid Atlantic Orthopedic Associates, LLP, as soon as possible when issues occur.
What are the symptoms of bone fractures?
Most bone fractures cause obvious symptoms, including:
- Pain
- Swelling
- Bruising
- Reduced range of motion
- Sudden change in appearance
- Difficulty bearing weight on the affected bone
Some types of fractures aren’t obvious, though. For example, stress fractures — small cracks in a bone caused by repeated stress — may not display obvious immediate symptoms because this type of fracture slowly weakens your bone to cause problems over time.
What causes fractures?
There are many causes of fractures, including:
Sports injuries
Sports fractures can affect your arms, legs, spine, pelvis, hips, and other areas.
Motor vehicle accidents
Spine, arm, and leg fractures are particularly common in motor vehicle accidents.
Bone disease
Bone diseases like osteoporosis weaken your bones, leaving you far more vulnerable to fractures in areas like the spine. Osteoporosis causes 1.5 million fractures every year. Arthritis can also attack your joints, weakening the bone to leave you vulnerable to fractures.
Fractures can also happen in other ways, including falls, on-the-job accidents, and other situations.
How are fractures treated?
Uncomplicated fractures may simply require immobilization with a splint, brace, or cast. But, with more complicated fractures, you may need surgery. Your orthopedic surgeon can use internal or external fixation — screws, plates, and pins — to help your bone remain in place as it heals.
If you have a nonunion fracture — one that doesn’t heal despite treatment — you may need additional specialized fracture care, such as ultrasound therapy, bone grafting, or other measures to ensure optimal recovery.
With all kinds of bone fractures, physical therapy plays a big role in recapturing strength and a normal range of motion.
