What are fractures?
Fractures are broken bones. You might experience a fracture from a sports injury, fall, car accident, overuse, or osteoporosis.
Fractures change the shape of your bone and often happen with high impact force. They commonly occur in the spine, wrist, hip, hands, fingers, ankles, and feet. If you experience symptoms of a fracture, seek medical care right away.
What are the symptoms of fractures?
The following signs and symptoms often indicate a fracture:
- An obvious deformity
- Intense pain
- Swelling
- Bruising
- Tenderness
- Warmth
- Redness
- Tingling or numbness
- Problems moving a limb
If you suspect a fracture in any part of your body, the orthopaedic specialists at ORC review your medical history and symptoms and examine the affected area. They use imaging procedures, such as X-rays, MRIs, bone scans, or CT scans, to diagnose your injury.
How are fractures treated?
The basis of your personalized fracture treatment plan depends on the type and severity of your injury. Your orthopaedic surgeon might recommend:
Ice and elevation
Immediately following a fracture, your doctor recommends applying ice to the area and keeping it elevated to minimize pain and swelling.
Non-surgical treatments
In the case of non-surgical treatment for a fracture, your orthopaedic specialist realigns your bone if necessary and places a splint, or fiberglass or plaster cast, around the injured area for at least 2-3 weeks.
Traction, which involves stabilizing, stretching, and realigning a fracture using traction tape or a system of weights, pins, and pulleys, might be necessary to realign a bone.
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections use platelets from your blood to speed up recovery without surgery or downtime.
Surgery
If your fracture is severe, surgery might be necessary in order to make a complete recovery. Your orthopedic surgeon makes an incision near the fracture site and might place plates or screws into the bone to realign it and stabilize fractured fragments. Your doctor stitches the area closed and immobilizes repaired bone with a cast or splint.
Physical therapy
After a fracture heals, your doctor might recommend physical therapy with the onsite therapists at Orthopaedic & Rehabilitation Centers to strengthen the affected area and accelerate healing.
Don’t let pain associated with a fracture linger and cause complications. At the first sign of a fracture, schedule an appointment with Orthopaedic & Rehabilitation Centers over the phone or online today.