Fracture treatment
Fractures are most commonly referred to as “open” or “compound,” which means the bone has broken through the skin, or “closed,” which means the fractured bone remains within the body without piercing the skin. They may also be referred to in terms of how or where they occur.
Symptoms of Fracture
- >Swelling or bruising over a bone
- >Deformity of an arm or leg
- >Pain in the injured area that gets worse when the area is moved or pressure is applied
- >An inability to bear weight on the affected foot, ankle, or leg
- >Loss of function in the injured area
- >In open fractures, bone sticking out from the skin
Causes
- >The most common causes of fractures include:
- >auto accidents, including accidents where pedestrians are struck by vehicles
- >slip and fall accidents, which occur most commonly among the elderly, young children and athletes
- >overuse injuries such as continual contact with a hard surface; runners are prone to these types of fractures
- >osteoporotic fractures that occur in people with low bone density
How is a fracture diagnosed?
Xray is the most common way to diagnose a fracture, although sometimes other types of diagnostic imaging may be used, especially when extensive soft tissue injury is suspected. The doctor will also look for signs like swelling, pain, and discoloration.
How are these fractures treated?
The goal of treatment is to control the pain, promote healing, prevent complications, and restore normal use of the fractured area.
An open fracture is considered an emergency. Seek immediate medical attention for this type of fracture. The type of treatment depends on the type, location and severity of the fracture and may include casting, splinting, bracing or surgery to place pins or screws into the bone to help stabilize it. Many fractures require physical therapy to build strength and regain mobility