What are fractures?
Fractures are breaks in bones. They can occur in any bone in your body, with some of the most common fractures affecting:
- Hips
- Feet
- Ankles
- Arms
- Hands
- Wrists
A fracture can range from a small crack that stops halfway through the bone to a break all the way through the bone. When a fracture divides the bone in two, the bone may remain in its proper position (a nondisplaced fracture), or it may move out of alignment (a displaced fracture). While most fractures involve a bone broken into two pieces, some fractures involve multiple pieces or even bone-shattering.
What are the symptoms of a fracture?
A fracture can cause symptoms including:
- Pain
- Swelling
- Bruising
- Difficulty moving
Some fractures feature an obvious deformity as well. The same problems can also occur with joint dislocation or sprains, so it’s best to reach out to North Point Orthopaedics for expert care if you have or suspect an injury.
What causes fractures?
Fractures most commonly happen with sports injuries, falls, and other types of accidents. However, compression fractures, which tend to be smaller cracks in the bones, occur because of repetitive pressure over time. If you have osteoporosis, a disease of bone thinning, you’re more vulnerable to compression fractures due to bone weakening. People with osteoporosis may experience compression fractures that then become more severe fractures following a fall or other type of accident.
How are fractures treated?
North Point Orthopaedics treats all types of upper extremity, mid-body, and lower extremity fractures. Treatment may include either nonsurgical or surgical approaches, depending on the type and severity of your fracture.
Treatment may include:
- Closed manipulation: A process in which your provider administers local anesthesia and then returns your bone to its correct position. This is an option for some cases of mildly displaced fractures.
- Immobilization: Most fractures require immobilization of some type, such as a cast, splint, or brace. Immobilization devices keep your bone in the right position as it heals.
- Surgery: Severe fractures, including badly displaced bones and fractures that break the bone in multiple areas, often require surgery. During surgery, your North Point Orthopaedics surgeon can reestablish proper bone alignment and reinforce the broken bone with internal or external fixation devices as needed.
If you have a fracture, prompt medical care is the best way to prevent your bone from healing in the wrong position or, worse yet, post-inflammatory arthritis. For the highest standard of fracture care, call North Point Orthopaedics or click on the online scheduling tool now.