Fractures
Labels Fractures
- Definition .
- Description .
- Basic First Aid for Fractures .
- Demographics .
- Causes and Symptoms .
- Diagnosis .
- Treatment .
- Prognosis .
- Prevention .
- The Future .
Showing posts with label Fractures. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fractures. Show all posts
Labels Fractures
Definition
A fracture is a break in a bone. It may extend only partway through the
bone (called a partial fracture) or be a complete break that goes the whole
way across the bone.
Fractures can be classified in several different ways. They may be
categorized by the body part or specific bone that is broken, or by certain
characteristics of the fracture:
bone (called a partial fracture) or be a complete break that goes the whole
way across the bone.
Fractures can be classified in several different ways. They may be
categorized by the body part or specific bone that is broken, or by certain
characteristics of the fracture:
- Simple fracture: The bone is broken in only one place.
- Multi-fragmentary (also called comminuted) fracture: The bone is
broken in several places and there are at least three bone fragments. - Closed fracture: The skin over the injury is not broken.
- Open (also called compound) fracture: The skin has been cut open
over the fracture. The bone may or may not be visible through
the wound. - Greenstick fracture: The bone is broken on one side while the
other side is bent. This type of fracture takes its name from the
typical breakage pattern of a green tree limb. - Undisplaced fracture: The pieces of the broken bone are aligned.
- Displaced fracture: The pieces of the broken bone are not in alignment.
- Stress fracture (also called hairline fracture): A thin partial break
in a bone caused by repeated stress on the body part. Stress fractures
are most likely to occur in athletes. - Compression fracture: A fracture that occurs in the spine of a person
with osteoporosis. The front part of a vertebra collapses
because the bone has been weakened by loss of calcium.
Description
The experience of a fracture varies considerably depending on the location
of the bone that has broken, the person’s age, the cause of the fracture,
and the amount of force that was applied to the bone. Most broken
bones are caused by a sudden sharp blow, fall, gunshot wound, or other
trauma, and the person often hears a snapping or grinding noise as the
bone breaks. Stress and compression fractures, however, result from
long-term overuse or weakening of the bone, and develop gradually.
Children’s bones are more flexible than those of adolescents or
adults, and greenstick fractures are more common in their age group.
Adults are more likely to break the bone completely. Elderly people are
more likely to develop compression fractures; they are also more likely
to break bones as the result of falls, and to suffer broken bones from less
force than it would take to cause a broken bone in a younger person.
of the bone that has broken, the person’s age, the cause of the fracture,
and the amount of force that was applied to the bone. Most broken
bones are caused by a sudden sharp blow, fall, gunshot wound, or other
trauma, and the person often hears a snapping or grinding noise as the
bone breaks. Stress and compression fractures, however, result from
long-term overuse or weakening of the bone, and develop gradually.
Children’s bones are more flexible than those of adolescents or
adults, and greenstick fractures are more common in their age group.
Adults are more likely to break the bone completely. Elderly people are
more likely to develop compression fractures; they are also more likely
to break bones as the result of falls, and to suffer broken bones from less
force than it would take to cause a broken bone in a younger person.
Basic First Aid for Fractures
The seriousness of a fracture depends partly
on its location. A broken back or neck, or
head injury, is a medical emergency. If an
injured person has a broken neck or back, or
if they have a broken bone that is coming
through the skin:
• Call for emergency help at once.
• Do not try to move the injured
person. Wait for help to arrive.
• If there is bone coming through the
wound, have the person lie down.
Apply pressure to the wound with a
gauze pad or clean cloth, but do not
try to push the bone back through
the skin or wash the wound.
If the fracture is less serious:
• Remove clothing from the injured limb.
Do not try to force an arm or leg backward
through a sleeve or pants leg; cut
the garment away with scissors.
• Apply a cold compress or ice
wrapped in cloth to the injured part.
• Make a temporary splint. Keep the
injured limb in the position it is in at
the time of injury; then place a towel
or other soft padding around the
injured part. Then take a board or
other firm object and place it next to
the injured part outside the padding.
Make sure that the board is long
enough to cover the joints above and
below the fracture. Use first-aid tape
to hold the splint in place.
• Do not give the injured person anything
to eat, in case they must be
taken into surgery when help arrives.
on its location. A broken back or neck, or
head injury, is a medical emergency. If an
injured person has a broken neck or back, or
if they have a broken bone that is coming
through the skin:
• Call for emergency help at once.
• Do not try to move the injured
person. Wait for help to arrive.
• If there is bone coming through the
wound, have the person lie down.
Apply pressure to the wound with a
gauze pad or clean cloth, but do not
try to push the bone back through
the skin or wash the wound.
If the fracture is less serious:
• Remove clothing from the injured limb.
Do not try to force an arm or leg backward
through a sleeve or pants leg; cut
the garment away with scissors.
• Apply a cold compress or ice
wrapped in cloth to the injured part.
• Make a temporary splint. Keep the
injured limb in the position it is in at
the time of injury; then place a towel
or other soft padding around the
injured part. Then take a board or
other firm object and place it next to
the injured part outside the padding.
Make sure that the board is long
enough to cover the joints above and
below the fracture. Use first-aid tape
to hold the splint in place.
• Do not give the injured person anything
to eat, in case they must be
taken into surgery when help arrives.
Demographics
Fractures are a common injury in the general American population,
although the location of fractures varies somewhat by age group. The
averageAmerican can expect to suffer two fractures over the course
of his or her life. According to the National Center for Health Statistics,
there are an average of 1.1 million hospitalizations and 3,450,000 visits
to outpatient emergency departments each year for fractures.
An additional 2 million fractures are treated in doctors’ offices.
Some specific annual statistics follow:
a wrist fracture. In people over seventy-five, hip fractures are
the most common injury. In people younger than fortyfive,
men are more likely to suffer fractures than women; in adults over
forty-five, however, women are more likely than men to suffer
broken bones. Over age sixty-five, women are three times as likely as
men to break a bone. More than two-fifths of fractures in the
United States occur at the person’s home, 23 percent inside the house,
and 19 percent on the grounds outside the house.
although the location of fractures varies somewhat by age group. The
averageAmerican can expect to suffer two fractures over the course
of his or her life. According to the National Center for Health Statistics,
there are an average of 1.1 million hospitalizations and 3,450,000 visits
to outpatient emergency departments each year for fractures.
An additional 2 million fractures are treated in doctors’ offices.
Some specific annual statistics follow:
- Hip fractures: About 320,000.
- Fractures of the tibia (long bone in the lower leg):
About 600,000; most caused by high-speed accidents,
with the highest rates in teenaged males. - Collarbone fractures: About 400,000.
- Stress fractures: More common in women than in men; found
in 45 percent of competitive female long-distance runners. - Fractures of the lower neck: About 11,000.
a wrist fracture. In people over seventy-five, hip fractures are
the most common injury. In people younger than fortyfive,
men are more likely to suffer fractures than women; in adults over
forty-five, however, women are more likely than men to suffer
broken bones. Over age sixty-five, women are three times as likely as
men to break a bone. More than two-fifths of fractures in the
United States occur at the person’s home, 23 percent inside the house,
and 19 percent on the grounds outside the house.
Causes and Symptoms
Most fractures result from some kind of trauma, most often a fall, highimpact
blow, or other accident. Athletes can develop stress fractures from
overexercise, however, and people with osteoporosis can develop compression
fractures from the simple weight of the spinal column on the
lower back with little or no trauma.
With the exception of stress and compression fractures, people can
often hear a bone snap or break when it fractures. The classic symptoms
of a fracture are:
complains of pain in the affected part of the body that has come on gradually
and gets worse during activity.
blow, or other accident. Athletes can develop stress fractures from
overexercise, however, and people with osteoporosis can develop compression
fractures from the simple weight of the spinal column on the
lower back with little or no trauma.
With the exception of stress and compression fractures, people can
often hear a bone snap or break when it fractures. The classic symptoms
of a fracture are:
- Intense pain
- Affected body part looks misshapen or out of place
- Numbness or a tingling sensation
- Swelling, bruising, or bleeding of surrounding skin
- Difficulty in moving affected part or complete inability to
move it
complains of pain in the affected part of the body that has come on gradually
and gets worse during activity.
Diagnosis
In most cases the patient’s history is the key to the diagnosis, including
age, sex, occupation, sports participation, and overall health as well as a
recent fall or other accident.
The doctor will order an x ray to determine the location and
pattern of the fracture. In the case of stress fractures, the doctor
will look for swelling or redness in the affected body part, and press
gently on the tissues around the bone for signs of increased pain or
tenderness.
age, sex, occupation, sports participation, and overall health as well as a
recent fall or other accident.
The doctor will order an x ray to determine the location and
pattern of the fracture. In the case of stress fractures, the doctor
will look for swelling or redness in the affected body part, and press
gently on the tissues around the bone for signs of increased pain or
tenderness.
Treatment
Normal bone heals itself following a fracture. Blood flows into the area of
a break and forms a clot. The clot is gradually replaced by a matrix of collagen
fibers. Cells called fibroblasts begin to lay down lines of new bone
cells on both sides of the fracture line. As these lines of cells grow toward
each other, the break in the bone is gradually repaired. Treatment of a
broken bone is therefore focused on holding the broken bone in the
proper position while the break is healing.
The bone may be held in place by either external or internal fixation
methods. External fixation methods include casts, splints, or cast-braces.
These are usually made from fiberglass or plaster. Internal fixation
methods include pins, screws, or wires inserted by a surgeon to hold
larger bones in place. Surgery may also be required to smooth the edges
of broken bones or to remove bone fragments in order to prevent infection.
Open (compound) fractures require the administration of antibiotics
and careful antiseptic cleansing of the wound to prevent infection.
Most fractures require about four weeks to heal. While some use of
the injured body part speeds healing, too much activity too soon can
cause further damage. Since the pain of a fracture usually stops long
before the bone is strong enough to return to normal levels of activity,
the patient should limit the use of the injured part according to the doctor’s
advice. Follow-up x rays are usually ordered to make sure that the
bone is in proper alignment and that the fracture is healing normally.
Many people require some form of physical therapy or rehabilitation
after the cast or other fixation materials are removed because the muscles
have grown weak from lack of exercise and the ligaments near the healing
bone may feel tight or stiff.
a break and forms a clot. The clot is gradually replaced by a matrix of collagen
fibers. Cells called fibroblasts begin to lay down lines of new bone
cells on both sides of the fracture line. As these lines of cells grow toward
each other, the break in the bone is gradually repaired. Treatment of a
broken bone is therefore focused on holding the broken bone in the
proper position while the break is healing.
The bone may be held in place by either external or internal fixation
methods. External fixation methods include casts, splints, or cast-braces.
These are usually made from fiberglass or plaster. Internal fixation
methods include pins, screws, or wires inserted by a surgeon to hold
larger bones in place. Surgery may also be required to smooth the edges
of broken bones or to remove bone fragments in order to prevent infection.
Open (compound) fractures require the administration of antibiotics
and careful antiseptic cleansing of the wound to prevent infection.
Most fractures require about four weeks to heal. While some use of
the injured body part speeds healing, too much activity too soon can
cause further damage. Since the pain of a fracture usually stops long
before the bone is strong enough to return to normal levels of activity,
the patient should limit the use of the injured part according to the doctor’s
advice. Follow-up x rays are usually ordered to make sure that the
bone is in proper alignment and that the fracture is healing normally.
Many people require some form of physical therapy or rehabilitation
after the cast or other fixation materials are removed because the muscles
have grown weak from lack of exercise and the ligaments near the healing
bone may feel tight or stiff.
Prognosis
The prognosis of a fracture depends on its cause and location, the patient’s
age and overall health, and the severity of the fracture. Most fractures will
heal eventually with prompt treatment. The patients at highest risk of
lasting complications from fractures are those with osteoporosis or other
diseases of the bone; those whose fractures involved crushing as well as
breaking of the bone; those with compound fractures that became infected;
those who are heavy smokers; those with poor nutrition; and those over
sixty years of age. Elderly people with hip fractures are 5–20 percent more
likely to die within a year of their injury than others in their age group.
age and overall health, and the severity of the fracture. Most fractures will
heal eventually with prompt treatment. The patients at highest risk of
lasting complications from fractures are those with osteoporosis or other
diseases of the bone; those whose fractures involved crushing as well as
breaking of the bone; those with compound fractures that became infected;
those who are heavy smokers; those with poor nutrition; and those over
sixty years of age. Elderly people with hip fractures are 5–20 percent more
likely to die within a year of their injury than others in their age group.
Prevention
Children, adolescents, and young adults can reduce their risk of fractures
by:
dangers of fractures resulting from falls:
by:
- Wearing proper protective gear for athletic activities and following
appropriate safety measures. - Eating a nutritious diet rich in calcium.
- Avoiding overexercising and overly restrictive diets. Many female
athletes develop stress fractures as a result of trying to lose more
weight than is healthy for them. - Not smoking. Smoking slows down the process of bone healing
after a fracture. - Wearing properly fitting shoes, and replacing athletic shoes as soon
as the soles begin to wear unevenly.
dangers of fractures resulting from falls:
- A safety inspection of the house or apartment, checking for slippery
floors, the lack of hand rails on stairs or in the bathroom,
poor lighting, loose rugs, and other features that may increase the
risk of falls. - Asking the doctor whether any medications that are prescribed
have drowsiness or loss of coordination as side effects. - Being very careful about alcohol intake. Alcohol can not only
make people dizzy or lose their balance but also encourage risky
behaviors that increase the risk of a fall. - Wearing shoes with low heels that fit properly, and avoiding
walking around the home in stocking feet or loose slippers. - Keeping bones strong by getting enough calcium and
vitamin D, and exercising regularly. Women should have a
bone density test every few years according to their doctor’s
recommendations. - Practicing balance exercises at home to improve flexibility as well
as balance. - Asking the doctor about hip padding. Some doctors recommend it
as a way to lower the risk of a hip fracture if the person does fall.
The Future
Fractures are likely to be a commonplace injury for people of all ages, in
younger patients as a result of sports or outdoor-related activities and car
or motorcycle accidents, and in elderly people as a result of falls. As the
population of older adults continues to grow, the number of fractures
in this age group is likely to increase as well.
younger patients as a result of sports or outdoor-related activities and car
or motorcycle accidents, and in elderly people as a result of falls. As the
population of older adults continues to grow, the number of fractures
in this age group is likely to increase as well.
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