What causes fractures?
A fracture, or broken bone, happens for three primary reasons:
Trauma
If you have strong, healthy bones, it takes extreme force or a substantial impact to cause a fracture. Falling from a height, being in a car accident, and suffering a sports injury are three of the most common traumas responsible for fractures.
Overuse
Your muscles become fatigued when you overtrain or participate in activities that demand repetitive movements. Tired muscles stop absorbing shock and instead pass the stress to your bones. Over time, this causes a stress fracture.
Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis causes weak, brittle bones, making your bones so fragile that they can break with very little force. You could break a bone during a strong cough or when suddenly bending over. One type of osteoporotic fracture called a compression fracture happens when the vertebrae (the bones in your spine) are so weak, they collapse.
What symptoms indicate that I have a fracture?
Fractures are notorious for causing:
- Pain
- Swelling
- Bruising
- Loss of motion
- Inability to bear weight on the bone
- Deformity if the bone pieces are misaligned
Vertebral compression fractures cause sudden back pain but don’t usually cause swelling or bruising.
How are fractures treated?
After finishing a thorough exam and taking X-rays, the team at Regenerative Orthopaedics and Spine Institute recommend treatment like:
Immobilization
A bone only heals correctly when the two ends are next to one another and in the proper alignment. To ensure that the bones stay in place during the healing process, your provider immobilizes the area with a brace, sling, or cast.
Bone realignment (reduction)
If the bone breaks into several pieces, the broken ends aren’t aligned, or you have an open fracture with a piece of bone protruding through the skin, your provider needs to realign and stabilize the bones.
This realignment procedure, called a reduction, can be done with or without surgery, depending on how severe the fracture is. An open fracture, a fracture with a wound or break in the skin, requires surgery to clean the area and prevent infection.
Physical therapy
After your bones heal and you can start moving again, you start physical therapy. Your program includes many possible active and passive exercises designed to rebuild muscle strength and restore your entire range of motion.
When you need comprehensive care for a fracture, call Regenerative Orthopaedics and Spine Institute or book an appointment online.
