Fractures Specialist

Fractures Q & A

What are fractures?

Fractures are broken bones. Any bone in your body can break in a number of different ways, completely or partially. The effects of aging or having a disease, such as osteoporosis, make bones weaker and more brittle, increasing the risk of fractures.

Bones do have a limited degree of flexibility that protects them from breaking, but with sufficient force, they can crack, and if enough force is applied, they can snap completely. Severe impacts, such as motor vehicle accidents or gunshot wounds, can cause bones to shatter into multiple pieces.

What types of fracture are there?

Your bones can break in a number of different ways, including:

• Stable fracture: the ends of the break remain lined up
• Stress fracture: usually due to overuse of a bone or repetitive motion
• Open (compound) fracture: exposed broken bone pierces your skin
• Transverse fracture: bones that have horizontal fracture lines
• Oblique fracture: bones that have angled fracture lines
• Comminuted fracture: bones broken into three or more pieces

Compound fractures are particularly nasty, not just because of the degree of pain they’re likely to cause, but because of the risk of infection both to the tissue and the bone.

Specific types of fracture include:

Hip fractures

Hip fractures cause pain in the outer portion of your upper thigh or groin, and trying to flex or rotate the hip causes severe pain.

Ankle fractures

You may be able to walk if you only have a single broken bone in your ankle, but the joint becomes increasingly unstable the more bones and ligaments are affected.

Wrist fractures

Wrist fractures are broken distal radius bones, which are the ends of the bone in your forearm nearest your wrist. Distal radius fractures are the most common type of fracture.

Shoulder fractures

Shoulder fractures can affect your clavicle (collar bone), proximal humerus (top of the upper arm bone), or scapula (shoulder blade).

Pediatric fractures

Treating children who have fractures requires particular expertise, as their bones are still growing, For example, growth plate fractures in the ankles need careful management to avoid the child developing crooked or uneven legs as they grow.

How are fractures treated?

Treatment for fractures depends on which bones are affected and how badly, as well as other factors like your age and general health. Fractures that require surgical intervention may need repair using screws, plates, and other permanent or temporary fixtures. Options include:

• Cast immobilization
• Functional cast or brace
• External fixation
• Open reduction and internal fixation
• Partial or total joint replacement

A stable fracture may heal without surgery, but you need follow-up X-rays to ensure the break doesn’t become unstable.

Physical therapy is an essential part of a successful recovery after sustaining a fracture. You need to build up strength in the affected area to support the healing tissues and prevent weakness that could lead to further problems.

If you or your child sustains a fracture, visit Orthopedic Specialists for swift and effective treatment to ensure optimal healing. Call the office or book an appointment online today.