Fractures

What causes fractures?

Fractures (broken bones) occur due to:

Traumatic injuries

Breaking a healthy bone requires the substantial force of traumatic injuries like falls, car accidents, and sports injuries.

Stress (overuse)

When you engage in intensive activities or don't get enough rest between activities, your muscles become fatigued and can't absorb shock. As a result, your bones take on more stress than normal. The excessive stress cracks the bone, causing a stress fracture.

Brittle bones

Osteoporosis makes your bones so weak and brittle that they fracture with very little force, such as falling from normal standing height. Another type of osteoporotic fracture occurs when your vertebra collapses because it's too weak to support its normal load.

What are the symptoms of a fracture?

Fractures cause symptoms such as:

• Pain
• Swelling
• Bruising
• Limited range of motion
• Reduced mobility
• Visible deformities (due to a misaligned bone)

Vertebral compression fractures cause back pain without visible swelling.

What are the different types of fractures?

Bones break in many different ways, and fractures are named based on their type. These are only a few examples:

• Complete fracture (the bone breaks into two pieces)
• Partial fracture (a crack, not a full break)
• Comminuted (the bone breaks into several pieces)
• Spiral (the fracture is in a curled pattern)
• Open fracture (the bone breaks through the skin)

An open fracture can lead to a serious infection as the open wound lets dirt and bacteria get inside your body.

How is a fracture treated?

The fellowship-trained team at Northeast Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine provide comprehensive fracture treatment, including:

Immobilization

Bones can only heal properly when they stay in position next to one another. Immobilization with a cast or brace holds them in place.

Bone realignment

If the pieces of bone are out of position, your provider realigns them. Sometimes this process requires surgery. After realigning the bones, your provider makes sure the pieces stay in the proper position by inserting screws, rods, plates, wires, or nails. 

Surgery for an open fracture

An open fracture needs immediate surgery to clean the wound and prevent an infection.

Physical therapy

Physical therapy is essential for restoring muscle strength and regaining optimal movement, balance, and flexibility.

When you need fracture treatment, call Northeast Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine, or book an appointment online today.