Fractures Mnagement

Fractures are usually caused by traumas like falls, car accidents or sports injuries. But some medical conditions and repetitive forces (like running) can increase your risk for experiencing certain types of fractures. If you break a bone, you might need surgery to repair it. Some people only need a splint, cast, brace or sling for their bone to heal. How long it takes to recover fully depends on which of your bones are fractured, where the fracture is and what caused it.

What are the different types of bone fractures?

There are many different types of fractures. Your provider will diagnose a specific fracture type depending on a few criteria, including its:

Pattern: A fracture pattern is the medical term for the shape of a break or what it looks like.
Cause: Some fractures are classified by how they happen.
Body Part: Where in your body your broke a bone.

Types of fractures include:

Simple fractures in which the fractured pieces of bone are well aligned and stable.
Unstable fractures are those in which fragments of the broken bone are misaligned and displaced.
Open (compound) fractures are severe fractures in which the broken bones cut through the skin. This type of fracture is more prone to infection and requires immediate medical attention.
Greenstick fractures: This is a unique fracture in children that involves bending of one side of the bone without any break in the bone.

What causes bone fractures?

Bone fractures are almost always caused by traumas. Anything that hits one of your bones with enough force can break it. Some of the most common causes include:

Car accidents
Falls
Sports injuries

What are the symptoms of a bone fracture?

Symptoms of bone fractures include:

Pain
Swelling
Tenderness
Inability to move a part of your body like you usually can
Bruising or discoloration
A deformity or bump that’s not usually on your body