Types of Fractures Afrid, Justin, Jonathan
A fracture is a broken bone Bones are rigid, but they do bend from an outside force The severity of a fracture usually depends on the force that caused the break. Types Stable fracture Open, compound fracture Transverse fracture Oblique fracture Comminuted fracture What is a fracture? + Types of Fractures
Causes Trauma - Falls or other instances of large pressure on a bone. Osteoporosis - A disorder that weakens bones and increases frailty. Overuse - repetitive motion and pressure can wear down bones and cause stress fractures.
Symptoms Swelling and tenderness around the injury. Bruising - You know what that is. Deformity - when a limb may look out of place or a part of the bone sticks out of the skin.
Prevention Proper diet and exercise may help in preventing some fractures. A diet rich in calcium and Vitamin D will promote bone strength. Weight-bearing exercises also helps keep bones strong. Weight-bearing is the amount of weight a patient puts on the leg.
Recovery Fractures take a lot of time to heal, depending on the extent of the injury and how well it is taken care of. Pain usually stops long before the fracture is solid enough to handle the stresses of normal activity. Continue limiting your movement until the bone is solid enough for normal activity. During recovery it is likely to lose muscle strength in the injured area. Specific exercises will help you restore normal muscle strength.
Treatment All forms of treatment of broken bones follow one basic rule: the process of reduction. Broken bone ends heal by "knitting" back together with new bone being formed around the edge of the broken parts. Cast Immobilization- A plaster or fiberglass cast is the most common type of fracture treatment Functional Cast or Brace- The cast or brace allows limited movement of nearby joints. Traction- Usually used to align a bone or bones by a gentle, steady pulling action. External Fixation- Metal pins or screws are placed into the broken bone above and below the fracture site