Types of Fracture You Need to Know

I am going to tell you about the types of bone fractures. There are several types of these injuries but all of them can be broken down into four main categories:

1-Displaced fractures-> The broken bone snapped into two or more breaks.

2-Non-Displaced fracture->The bone cracks but maintain its proper alignment.

3-Open fractures->These are prone to infections from being exposed to the air that could be filled with air and bacteria. They may also experience some serious complications as the edge of the broken bones break through the skin.                  

4-Closed fracture->The bone breaks but there is no puncture or wound in the skin.

Another type of fractured bone is called Greenstick or Buckle. This is an incomplete fracture that leaves bones bent, but not broken. However, bones are driven into each other, usually arm bones. In any type of injury, the pain can be extreme. For any patient, this type of pain is unacceptable.

There are several other types of fractures and they are classified in various ways. Historically they are named after the doctor who first described the conditions of the broken or cracked bones. However, there are more systematic classifications in place currently. These classifications are important as they help identify just what specific treatment the patient needs. This is why proper diagnosis of the injury is also important as this can lead to the identification and location of the fractured bone.

If you break a bone, it is important that you consult with your doctor right away before the injury gets worse.  

Types of Bone Fracture

Today I am going to share to you information about the types of bone fracture and their treatment. Here are some of the more common types of fractured bones:

(a)Simple fracture

(b)Stress fracture

(c)Comminuted fracture

(d)Impacted fracture

(e)Compound fracture

(f)Complete fracture

(g)Incomplete fracture

The doctor should first determine the type of the injury then he starts treatment according to the injury. So now we will discuss about fractures in short details as follows:

(i)In the case of a simple fracture, the bone breaks into two pieces and the area of the second part does not work properly.

(ii)In the Stress fracture, there is a hairline break that is often invisible on the x-ray for the first six weeks after the onset of pain.

(iii)In the Comminuted fracture, the bone breaks into several pieces.

(iv)One fragment of bone is embedded into another fragment of bone in the Impacted fracture.

(v) In Compound fracture the bone protrudes through the skin. It is also called an open type of fractured bone.

(vi)Bone snaps completely into two or more pieces in complete fracture.

(vii)Bone cracks but doesn't separate in an incomplete fracture.

The first treatment is the immobilization of the fractured area using a cast or splint. It is very important in the time of recovery from the injury.

The second step is the setting of bone through surgery. When surgery is needed, the procedure is called an open reduction. The doctor will give you local or general anesthesia. General anesthesia will put you to sleep. During the surgical procedure, the doctor may insert a rod, pin, plate, or screw into the injury to hold the bone in place. 

 Surgery can be advantageous in some ways such as early mobility of injured bone and some use of the injured bone within weeks rather than month. However, it is only recommended when nothing else can be done about the injury.

Guide to Bone Fracture

"BONE FRACTURE" refers to a broken bone. However, it is a very painful injury. To heal it, it could take weeks or months. The severity of fractured bones increases with age. Children's bones are more flexible and less likely to break. Falls or other accidents that do not harm children can cause complete fractures in older adults. Older adults suffer from fractured bones more than children because their bones are more likely to be brittle.

The most common symptoms of fractured bones are swelling around the injured area, loss of function in the injured area, bruising around the fractured area, or deformity of a limb. These are common signs that you should watch out for to detect broken bones early on.

The natural process of healing a fracture starts when the injured bone and the surrounding tissues bleed, forming a hematoma. The blood coagulates to form a blood clot situated between the broken fragments. Within a few days, blood vessels grow into the jelly-like matrix of the blood clot. The new blood vessels bring phagocytes to the area, which gradually remove the non-viable material. The blood vessels also bring fibroblasts in the walls of the vessels and these can multiply and produce collagen fibers. In this way the blood clot is replaced by a matrix of collagen. Collagen's rubbery consistency allows bone fragments to move only a small amount unless severe or persistent force is applied.

The seriousness of the fracture depends on the age of the individual and location of the fractured bone. Some fractured bones only require temporary protection (crutches, splint). More serious fractured injuries may require surgery.

Things to Learn About Fracture

When your loved one got into an accident, this could lead to fractured bones. Some fractures are only minor while others can land them in the emergency room for a quick surgery.

But first, the doctor write lets the patient undergo an X-ray to understand which part of the body is fractured. In the medical term if you wanted to say, the fracture is a broken bone. It is very common, and every person will probably have one or two fracture incidents over his lifetime.

But the problem comes when the age of the person reaches forty and above due to weak bones. At this time, the bones of a person are going to weaken slowly. And the water of the bones dries up. Luckily, in children the breaks are simple compared to an adult. As we age, our bones become more brittle, so the older we are, the greater the risk of having fractured bones. In old age, our recovery is not as easy and it happens slower. When we were younger, there is still risk that we might break something though the recovery might happen faster.

One of the injuries is the Jones fracture is a break of bones that occurs in-between the mid shaft portion of the bone and the posterior or base of the metatarsal. This type of injury happens only because of inversion or rolling in of the ankle. In this injury, a small piece of bone breaks off due to the pull of a ligament or tendon.

Fractured bones are classified in various ways. Historically they are named after the doctor who first described the fracture conditions. However, there are more systematic classifications in place currently. These classifications are important in determining the right treatment for the injury.

Use of Exogen for Fracture Healing

 Exogen is an ultrasound machine. It was made by Smith and Nephew. It is a machine which accelerates the fracture healing process. The ultrasound treatment is needed for 20 minutes each day at the injury site. This treatment can stimulate your bone and heal the fracture at a faster speed.

It has proven to be helpful in the non-union fractures that will not heal.

- The freshly broken bone is healed 38% faster with the use of Exogen than the other methods used for fracture healing.

- In case of non –unions, the healing speed is 86%.

- It takes 20 minutes of your time daily.

With the use of the Exogen machine, you direct the ultrasound waves at the fractured bones just for 20 minutes. You have to repeat the process daily. The Exogen Kit contains a foot strap, ultrasound machine, two bottles of ultrasound coupling gel, and a booklet of instructions. Exogen is a wonderful machine for many fractured patients. This new healing system can be used by the patient at home. The technology used in Exogen system is already proven to be very successful and works with all types of broken bones.

It helps to speed up the healing process, which may be delayed by the intake of alcohol and smoking. It also helps patients suffering from systemic diseases like obesity, diabetes and osteoporosis.

These risk factors can be lower in the healing process of a broken bone when Exogen is used. Exogen ultrasound accelerates the speed up to 50% even among the patients who smoke. It is a revolutionary machine in treating fractured bones.

Things that Can Affect Fracture Healing

There are various factors that affect the fracture healing process. These factors are separated into two categories - local variables and systematic variables. Both of them affect the rate and the degree of the healing of the broken bones. When the fracture healing process takes more time than usual, it is called as delayed union. If the bones do not join, it is termed as non-union of the bones. Certain factors are responsible for these problems, including the following:

1. Systemic factors

*Age - Age is a major factor in the healing process of any broken bone. It is faster in children than in adults. The bones of a baby are made of cartilages also they have ability to repair and heal at a faster rate.

*Nutrition - Sufficient amount of nutrients are essential for the healing of broken bones. Nutrients like carbohydrates and proteins are required in adequate quantity. Vitamin C helps calcium to absorb calcium from blood.

*Systemic diseases-A person having diabetes will likely experience delay in healing.

*Hormones - Hormones such as calcitonin and thyroid also play a vital role during the treatment of fractures.

2. Local variables.

*Type of bone - Different bones take different duration of time to heal.

*Degree of trauma - If the injury is severe and it has damaged the surrounding tissues it will take more time to heal.

*Vascular injury - Due to vascular injury, blood supply is affected, which may result in delayed healing.

*Degree of immobilization - Immobilized fractured parts heal faster. If the fractured bone keeps moving, this may cause further injury.

The healing of fractures is influenced by multiple variables.

Signs of a Broken Bone

Bones, as we know them, are not rigid in nature. They undergo various physiological processes of repair and regeneration. They play a very important part in the proper functioning of our body. Bones together form a human skeleton. An adult human skeleton contains 206 bones but a new born baby has 300 bones. These eventually tend to form 206 bones as they grow up. The bones of babies are probably made up of smaller and softer parts. Over the time they turn into harder and bigger bones. This process is called ossification. But before the bones harden up, babies can have a fracture very easily. So care must be taken while lifting a small baby. Although they have soft bones, there are still a lot of risks of having fractured bones.

To determine a fracture in a small baby is a bit difficult. It could be a sprain also. If your baby gets injured, the best thing is to put icepack around the injury.

You will notice a swelling, but that will reduce by ice pack application. If the injury is worse and your baby is crying with pain, you must go to the doctor for medical help.

Here are some sign of broken bone which will help you in the assessment of fracture in a baby:

1. A snapping sound is heard if the bone breaks.

2. The injured area becomes tender.

3. The fractured part becomes shallow.

4. Severe pain with inflammation.

5. The pain increases with any movement.

6. Bleeding of bones and tissues.

7. Deformed shape of the limb.

8. The child will refuse to stand or walk

If you see any of the above symptoms of a fracture, see a doctor as soon as possible.

Guide to Jones Fracture

"What is a Jones fracture?” This is question from anyone who is suffering from this problem. Today, I am going tell you how we can relax from this type of fractured bone. It is a break in the fifth metatarsal that occurs in between the mid shaft portion of the bone and the posterior or base of the metatarsal. This type of injury happens only because of inversion or rolling in of the ankle. In this injury, a small piece of the bone breaks off due to the pull of a ligament or tendon.

The Torg classification system is commonly used by physicians in this type of problem to determine proper treatment based on radiographic findings. Due to the high rate of nonunion in this type of fracture caused by the disruption of the blood supply to the metatarsal fracture site, this classification system allows proper treatment based on the severity of the fractured bone. But the patient has to take a proper rest in third type of treatment.

In the Torg system, there are three types of fractured bones. Type I and II fracture usually are treated conservatively with a non-weight bearing cam walker or cast for 6-8 weeks. This is followed up by gradual weight bearing walking boot, which can be tall or short. Some Type II fractures may require surgery depending on the patient and activity level. Type III fractures usually are displaced fractured bones and should be treated surgically with fixation devices to hold the two bones together. Patient has to try movement in this fractured area slowly. This is followed up with a non-weight bearing cast or cam walker.

Possible Complications While Treating Fractures

Fractures are very common. They heal in most of the people naturally, but in some cases it may lead to more problems. Whenever you break a bone, it could be a result of severe injury. You can notice severe pain and swelling in the injured area. The severe swelling can put a lot of pressure on the blood vessels. These blood vessels stop the blood circulation at the fractured body part. The decreased blood supply can damage the muscles that they can even die. If the muscles will die, it results in long term disability. This syndrome is called as compatible syndrome. When the arteries or nerves near the fracture get damaged due to severe injury, it is called as neurovascular injury.

Infection is another problem one can face when you have an open fracture. The bones are exposed to air, dirt and bacteria. There lead to increased risk of infection in the open wound. If the fractured part extends into the joints, it can cause a lot of problems. The fractured joints sometimes do not meet at a proper angle.

Some grown abnormalities can also create problems in fractures. If the injury persists in a growth plate of a child, the bone could grow in an abnormal manner. This could result to a difference in the length of mature, hard bones.

If the fractured bones take long time in healing, it will become a matter of worry. It is likely due to a delayed union of fractured bones. Sometimes it could happen that the bone does not heal in a short time. This is called as non union of the broken bones.

Normally these problems do not occur. All fractured cases usually heal up in short time without much problem but if any of the complications mentioned above, they will not be cured quickly. So you must consult with an expert.

What is a Compression Fracture?

Have you heard about compression fracture? Do you know when it usually happens and why, and what the reasons for it to happen in your body? I am going to tell you about this type of fracture-related injury.  This will really help you understand about what a compression fracture is and how you can prevent yourself from becoming the victim of this type of injury.

Compression fracture is one the kind of condition we have today which is very common among people at an older age. It is associated with the fractured spinal cord. Do you know the importance of spinal cord in your body? With the help of spinal cord, we are able to sit and stand straight on our feet. It gives support to your body. So, what would happen if you have a compression type of injury in the vertebral column? We will be unable to walk or sit properly.

A fractured spinal cord is due to some trauma or due to the weakened bones or vertebral column. The bones become weak due to osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is the condition that involves thinning of the bones due to lack of calcium in body. A person suffering from Osteoporosis is prone to have a fractured spinal cord. It is not only osteoporosis that is responsible for compression injury because an accident or ejection seats are also responsible for this injury.

An x-ray is suggested to assess the extent of the injury. Sometime an X-ray is not sufficient though. MRI or CT scan is also done to diagnose the compression fracture. MRI and CT scan prevents the spinal cord from the side effects of the harmful x-rays.

Special Type Of Fracture: Stress Fracture

                        

There are many types of fracture and one of them is the incomplete type. Stress fracture is a result of overuse of bones or stressing the bones. The repeated stress on the bones may lead to cracks on it, which eventually causes it to get fractured. It takes place near the ankle, legs or wrist.  It occurs commonly in the weight bearing bones. Bones of lower leg and bones of the foot are the major victims of the stress fracture.

This special type of fracture may happen to any part of the body though. The duration of the healing process for fractured bones depends upon the location of the fractured bone. It also depends on the body’s healing power and the severity of the injury. The process of fracture healing can depend upon the dietary intake of the individual.

Sometimes, it can be very easy to find this where the affected area is It can be determined by pain and tenderness near the injury site. It may cause a little pain initially but in the long run results may be dangerous. Therefore, necessary steps should be taken to prevent stress injury.

Stress fracture can be detected easily but it cannot be determined well in an X-ray. So a MRI or CT scan is used to detect it. A three-phase bone scan is another option to find the evidences of the fractured area. The scanning result may show a small crack in the bone. It is also called as the hairline type of fractured injury.

Some Facts Regarding Fracture

The duration of fracture healing is based on the type of injury suffered by the bones. It can be easily diagnosed in an X-ray.

There are many types of treatments for broken bones but one of the most advanced treatments is the use of EXOGEN ultrasound machine. The machine stimulates the cells of the bone to grow fast, so that they can form granulation tissues to form soft callus. This soft callus forms hard callus.

Several other factors also affect the treatment of fractures are nutrition, physical health level of the person.

I will definitely say that EXOGEN is a magic machine for those who are suffering from severe problems of fractured bones.

Stress fracture is a type of injury which cannot be referred as a complete type so it is classified under the incomplete category. It is a result of overuse of bones. The repeated stress on the bones may cause it to get cracked or fractured. It takes place near the ankle, legs or wrist.  It occurs commonly in the weight bearing bones. Bones of lower leg and bones of the foot are the major victims of this stress injury.

The duration of healing process depends on the extent of injury. It also depends upon the angle of the fracture or dislocation of bone. The process of fracture healing occurs in four stages-Haematoma formation, cellular growth, callus formation and ossification. When there is a fracture in bone, blood capillaries discharge blood around the fractured bone.

Callus increases the bone thickness as it covers the fracture area of bone. Osteoblasts keep in check the essential mineral salts such as calcium and phosphate ions are deposited properly on callus. These mineral salts helps in strengthening of callus. Osteoclasts help in smoothness of bones. This is called as the remodeling phase of the healing process.

Phases Involved in the Fracture Healing Process

Do you know what happens with the broken bone after you met an accident? Have you ever thought how the broken bones heal and what are the phases involved during the fracture healing process? This is an interesting process. I will let you know what happens after the injury and what the phases of fracture healing are. You can hear a cracking sound if you have a broken bone. The fractured area gets swollen and you will feel pain. 

 Also there may be an irritation or inflammation around the fracture. As soon as the bone breaks, it starts bleeding. You must consult a doctor immediately so that you come to know about the severity of the broken bone. After knowing the type of fracture you have, you will get proper treatment. But do you know that before the treatment has started, the bone starts a healing process by itself? 

There are three major phases involved in the process, such as the following:

1.     Reactive phase: It is known as the inflammatory phase. The vessels stop bleeding and a clot is formed called hematoma. The outer cell of hematoma degenerates and dies. But some inner cells called fibroblasts remain alive and replicate. They form a loose layer of cells called granulation layer.

2.     Reparative phase:  After some days of fracture the inner lining of bone periosteum   also replicate to form chondroblasts. These chondroblasts fill the gap in the broken bones by making a net-like structure. The fibroblasts in the granulation tissue also develop into chondroblasts to form the hyaline cartilage. The process continues until the fractured gap is filled completely. This process is called as callus formation.

Importance of X-ray for Fracture Treatment

What is the role of X-rays in the fracture? X-ray shows the right position of the broken bone in the body. Without X-ray, it is not possible to see which bone/s is affected by the injury.

The X-rays shows the nature of the fracture, the condition of the bones and tissues, and whether any foreign objects have been introduced to the area. With the help of the X-ray results, doctor can take the right decision about the injury.  The images produced will also help the doctor determine what treatment can be done, like taping up ribs to immobilize them for healing. When broken bones are found in the extremities, they are often not exactly clean breaks and surgery may be needed to remove bone fragments, insert pins or rods to stabilize the bone, or realign the bones before any casts or immobilization aids can be applied to set the break.

When a person got into an accident, then there is lot of problem that can occur in finding the injury.  When an injury is not obvious, like a piece of bone is having broken the skin, X-rays must be taken to discern the exact nature of the break. Doctors always start their treatment after the X-ray. It is the right way of treatment. Not all breaks are obvious to the patient, or their companions, like broken ribs. Even a femoral fracture can be walked on, especially greenstick or stress fractures, with considerable pain, but it can be done.

Today’s there is the facility where you can have X-ray. So it is my suggestion to all the patients and the family members. Always use this facility when this type of problem occurs. The cost of this facility is usually around $150-400. In the government hospital this facility is free.

Have You Heard About Stress Fracture?

Stress fracture is commonly associated with sports. If you follow sports and the famous athletes, you must know the popular tennis elbow problem of Sachin Tendulakar, an Indian cricketer. Tennis elbow is a type of stress injury, which occurs due to over working and a lot of stress on the bone.

Nowadays, cricket is very popular among all the people countrywide. We must have heard about the injuries related to players. If they have an injury, selectors don’t include them in their team while playing in a big game.

Stress fracture is not only related to cricket because it is also associated with all types of sports that use a single part of the body repeatedly. For instance, during pedal racing, the foot or legs may get a stress injury. There can be slow pain at the start but at the end of the race, it would become almost insufferable. These injuries create big problems to the athlete’s career, especially if not treated well.

Necessary steps must be taken to prevent the fracture due to overuse of bones. Stress fractures may take a long time to recover. Due to this reason, players are not allowed to play if they have a minor injury. There may be an associated injury with the fractured bone. The ligaments near the bone may break.

Athletes can have a fractured foot, which is another type of fracture. These fractures take a long time to heal in comparison to other fractured ones because these bones bear the whole body weight. So a complete rest is required in this case to encounter the post treatment problems.

Fracture Treatment For Broken Foot

If you need to treat a fracture in the foot of the patient, you must give him first aid relevant for the broken foot or. Here are some tips that you need to remember:

1.     The first and foremost thing you can do is stabilization and elevation. You must elevate the leg to prevent it from bleeding and swelling. This will also reduce pain.

2.     Any type of splint available nearby can be beneficial. A pillow cover can be used to wrap around the foot and tie it with a bandage. This will avoid the movement of the fractured bone.

3.      Do not wrap the injured foot tightly. It can cut off the blood circulation and the muscles nearby can die. So the situation may be worse.

4.     As mentioned earlier, elevation is the best aid for fracture. It can be given easily as first aid. The elevated portion of the body must be higher than the heart.

5.     An ice pack will be helpful. Wrap the ice in a towel and put it on the fractured part. It will reduce pain and also prevent the area from swelling.

6.     Do not move your legs as it can cause further injury. You need medical help.

After you have given these aids to the patient take him to the doctor, who is a specialist in dealing with fractures r. Follow the instructions given by the doctor. The Doctor will analyze each and everything involved with the injury and then deal with it.

Some Precautions for Fracture Cases

Some precautions must be taken while a person is suffering from a broken bone. You must give him the first aid required at the time which can save the life of the patient. In this article we will discuss about certain things which one should keep in mind while giving first aid to a patient with a fracture.

Here are the most important things to remember while giving first aid to an injured patient to prevent from any further injury:

1. Do not let the patient move unless it is important. Keep the patient still and calm.

2. Do not move the patient having a suspected fracture in the pelvis or upper leg. If you do so, it can move the broken bone from its place and will result in further injuries.

3. If you suspect a fracture in the spinal cord then never ever move the patient.

4. Do not straighten the fractured part.

5. Do not touch the broken part.

6. If there is a fracture in head or neck not try to move the person and say him to lay down flat.

In such cases immediately call a doctor for help. You must check for the blood circulation near the fractured area. You can do it simply by pressing the nerves near the fractured part of the patient. Press the nerves with your finger tip. If you feel loss of pulse, do not do anything with the patient and call to doctor. At this time the patient needs medical help the soonest time possible.

How Helpful is Vertebroplasty?

I am 30 years old. Last year I met with an accident when I was moving out of my office. A fast moving car hit me and blew me away. I fell down to the ground. I could not get up due to tremendous pain in my back bone and I was taken by ambulance to be admitted to a nearby hospital. I was immediately taken to an emergency ward. Doctors asked for an immediate MRI and CT scan of my back bone.

X-ray was not conducted as x-ray is harmful in the case of a backbone fracture. The MRI and CT scan tests revealed that I have a backbone fracture. According to the doctors, if it is not treated well, I can get paralyzed. At that moment I felt that I will never be able to walk again. I was in a depressed mood. Doctors said that the spinal cord fractures put me in a critical condition and that they take a long time to heal. Bed rest is the only treatment for it. These types of fracture cannot be treated by simple casting or splinting.

One of my friends consulted another doctor who diagnosed a new type of fractured bone, which is compression fracture. He suggested vertebroplasty for my spinal cord. During vertebroplasty, a glue-like liquid is injected into the broken bone. This glue becomes hard and fills the fracture gap. This treatment really proved helpful and I recovered very soon from my fractured spinal cord. Now I can perform all my activities as I used to perform earlier. Thanks to my friend and doctor who suggested this treatment for my injured spinal cord.

Types of Fracture

There are so many types of fracture. Doctors always examine the injury and x-ray reports of the fractured area. The x-ray reveals which type of fracture the patient has. The treatment option completely depends on the type of fractured bone. It can be complete or incomplete, simple or compound, stress or comminuted. Here we will discuss about the types of fractures:

1. Complete fracture:

In this case, the bone completely breaks up into two parts.

2. Incomplete fracture:

This occurs when there is a crack in the bone but the bone is still in one whole part without separating from each other.

3. Impact fracture:

This happens when the fragments of broken bone get embedded inside the other fragment.

4. Compound fracture:

This is also known as an open type of fractured bone when a broken bone comes out of the skin. This happens when the sharp edge of the broken bone has torn the skin surrounding the injured area.

5. Comminuted fracture:

This occurs when a bone breaks into several pieces.

6. Stress fracture:

This is common among toddlers and is also called as lysine fracture. It only appears within a few weeks after the injury and only in x-ray.

7. Simple fracture:

It is the same as the incomplete type of fractured bone. In this type of fractured case, the bone breaks into two parts.

All these types of fractures are detected by an x-ray report. If the x-ray is unable to detect the problem then next way is to go through CT-scan. It will surely help you out.

Fracture Healing Time

There are 206 bones in the human skeleton. What would happen if one of these bones gets fractured? No doubt you will be in trouble. A fracture can hinder many of your daily activities. If proper treatment and care is not given then the injury could harm you a lot. It takes a lot of time to heal a fractured bone. The fracture healing depends on the bone which got broken. Here I am going to discuss how much time a bone requires to heal up properly.

This is rough estimation. Remember the healing time depends on which bone is affected. It will also depend on whether you are drinking and smoking while trying to treat the injury. These two things can slow down the fracture healing procedure.

If the fracture has undergone surgery, it will also take more time as compared to normal fractured bones. Here I am, sharing a chart that can help you find the average healing time for your fractured bone:

Collar bone   3-8 weeks

Shoulder bone     6 weeks

Ribs      4week

Upper arms    4-10 weeks

Lower arms    6 weeks

Wrist    4-12 weeks

Upper leg    12 weeks

Lower leg     10-24 weeks

Foot   3-12 weeks

You can observe that weight bearing bones of the lower legs take more time to heal. A fractured foot also takes 3-12 weeks because it supports your body’s weight. The duration of healing is longer in such cases.

The main thing that I want to discuss is that if you use the fractured part of your body more than usual, it will take more time to heal up. Actually there are white blood corpuscles in our body named as responsible mainly for automatic healing.                                                                                                                                   

How to Handle Fracture in Children

Bones are not rigid by nature. They undergo various physiological processes of repair and regeneration. They play very important part on the proper functioning of our body. Bones together form a human skeleton. An adult human skeleton contains 206 bones but a new born baby still has 300 bones. These eventually tend to form 206 bones as they grow up. The bones in babies are made up more bones that become connected to each other and over time they turn in to bones. This process is called ossification.

Babies can have a fracture very easily due to the nature of their bones. So, care must be taken while lifting a small baby. Although they have soft bones, there are still risks of them getting a fracture.

To determine a fracture in a small baby is a bit difficult. It could be a sprain too. If your baby gets injured best thing is to put icepack around the injury.

You will notice a swelling, but that will reduce by ice-pack application. If the injury is worse and your baby is crying with pain, you must go to the doctor for immediate medical help.

Here are some sign of broken bones which will help you in the assessment of a fracture among children:

1. A snapping sound is heard if the bone breaks.

2. The injured area becomes tender.

3. The fractured part becomes shallow.

4. Severe pain with inflammation.

5. The pain increases with any movement.

6. The bleeding of bones and tissues can be observed.

7. There is a deformed shape of the limb.

8. The child will refuse to stand or walk.

If you see any of the above symptoms, see a doctor as soon as possible.

Some Precautions for Fracture Cases

Some precautions must be taken while a person is suffering from a broken bone. You must give him the first aid required at the time to help save the life of the patient. In this article we will discuss about certain things which one should keep in mind while giving first aid to a patient with a fracture. You must take note of the following things to prevent any further injury to the patient:

1. Do not let the patient move unless it is important. Keep the patient still and calm.

2. Do not move the patient having a fracture in the pelvis or upper leg. If you do so then it can move the broken bone from its place and it will result in further injuries.

3. If you suspect a fractured spinal cord, don’t ever move the patient.

4. Do not straighten the fractured part.

5. Do not touch the broken part.

6. If there is a fracture in the head or neck not try to move the person and say him to lay down flat.

In such cases immediately call a doctor for help. You must check for the blood circulation near the fracture. You can do it simply by pressing the nerves near the fractured part of the patient. Press the nerves with your figure tip. If you feel loss of pulse do not do anything with the patient and call the doctor. At this time the patient needs emergency medical help.

Vertebroplasty – How Helpful It Can Be

I am 30 years old. Last year I met with an accident when I was moving out of my office. A fast moving car hit me and I fell down on the ground. I could not get up due to tremendous pain in my back bone so I was taken by ambulance to be admitted in a nearby hospital. I was also taken to an emergency ward. Doctors asked for an immediate MRI and CT scan of my back bone to see what injuries I could have sustained.

X-ray was not conducted as x-ray is harmful in the case of a backbone fracture. The MRI and CT scan tests revealed that I did have a broken backbone and if not treated well, I can get paralyzed. At that moment I felt that I will never be able to walk again. I was depressed. The doctors said that the spinal cod fractures are very critical and they take a long time to heal. Bed rest is the only treatment for that. These types of fracture cannot be treated by casting or splinting.

One of my friends consulted another doctor. The other doctor thought that I might have compression fracture. So he suggested vertebroplasty to treat my fractured spinal cord. In the vertebroplasty, a glue-like liquid is injected into the broken bone. This glue becomes hard and fills the fracture gap. This treatment really proved helpful and I recovered very soon from the spinal cord injury. Now I can perform all my activities as I used to perform them before the accident. Thanks to my friend and doctor who suggested this treatment for my injury.

Osteoporosis Disease Overview

Osteoporosis disease only happens because of low bone mass and loss of bone tissue that may lead to weak and fragile bones. If you are suffering from this disease then the chance of bone fracture is high. It may occur in the hip, spine or wrist. The damage from osteoporosis begins much earlier in life because peak bone density is reached at approximately 25 years of age. It is important to build strong bones by that age, so that the bones will remain strong later in life. Adequate calcium intake is an essential part of building strong bones.

 Most people who have osteoporosis won't ever know it before fracturing a bone. Not even an x-ray done at your doctor's office is helpful, since a person would need to lose 30-50% of their bone density before it could be detected with a normal x-ray.

The women are mostly suffering from this disease. If you find than 80% women from the total population of the women is suffering from the Osteoporosis and this percentage is increasing from year to year. In other countries like United States, there are 10 million people who already have Osteoporosis.

There is a test which is used to check your bone density and determine if you are at risk for fracture. It is called a DEXA, which stands for Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry. The test will produce two scores that are used to determine your risk.

Osteoporosis occurs when there is an imbalance between new bone formation and old bone desorption. So you have to always take precaution to save yourself from the Osteoporosis and prevent fracture.

 

What Causes the Hip Joints to Ache During Hip Fracture?

Aching hip joints are usually the sign of other health issues, including bursitis, sciatica, or hip fracture. While bursitis and sciatica may be resolved by getting plenty of bed rest and taking over-the-counter medication, you might need surgery if you have a hip fracture. Seeking prompt medical attention is necessary to determine the exact cause of the hip joint ache.

Bursitis is caused when bursae fluid-filled sacs that help reduce friction between tissues become inflamed. Trochanteric and Ischia bursae are located around hip joints. If they're inflamed, you may experience aching and dull pain while sleeping, sitting for prolonged periods of time or when walking up hills. The inflammation of bursae is usually caused by soft tissue injury aseptic bursitis or bacterial infection.

Treatment for aseptic bursitis includes cold compresses and anti-inflammatory medications. Septic bursitis requires antibiotic medications. Septic bursitis is not common in hip joints, however.
Elderly people and those diagnosed with osteoporosis are at risk of fracturing a hip. A fractured hip can cause severe pain and may require extensive physical therapy or surgery depending on the location of the fracture. X-ray images are the only way to determine if the hip is fractured. Hip dislocation can occur after a severe injury or accident. The pain you feel after dislocating the hip is due to the thighbone separating from the hip socket.

Pain can be felt in hip joints, legs, and the sciatic nerve, located along the back of the legs. Pain is more severe while walking. Medication and physical therapy is usually needed after the thighbone is returned to the hip socket. Repetitive motion can cause tendonitis, or aching and tenderness in joints. While tendonitis in hip joints is not as common as in other joints, such as elbow or knee joints, performing repetitive work, related movements or sports postures for prolonged periods of time may cause tendonitis in hip joints. Changes in how you perform work-related tasks and other movements throughout the day are recommended to prevent further injury.

Sciatica is pain that occurs in the legs and is usually the outcome of trauma to the sciatic nerve. Pelvic injury, slipped disc and degenerative disc disease are common causes. Sciatica can cause aching in hip joints and increasing pain throughout legs and feet. Depending on the cause of sciatica, treatment options include cold compresses, medication and physical therapy.

Humerus Fracture

Humerus fracture is one of the most common types of fracture. It could happen to both adults and children. It usually happens on the arm, which is made up three major bones. This type of fracture is usually caused in the time of slip and fall. When you fall from anywhere then it may lead to a fractured bone in any part of the body, but most especially the arm. It depends on how you fell and landed on the ground.

If you fall on the arm, your arm could be fractured. Otherwise if you fall from the leg side, then your leg bone might get fractured. If you fall on an outstretched hand, your limbs could get fractured. These injuries are also common in auto accidents.

Today we are unable to take a proper food for our body. By the cause of this our bones is not so much strong lack of the proper requirement. Fractures of the hummers are common and have different effects depending on the fractured site. So cause of this if we fall from a small distance, then our bones is fractured due to their lack of the strength. 

A fractured surgical neck of a humerus may damage the nearby auxiliary nerve and limit abduction of the arm. Distal humerus fractures remain a challenging reconstructive problem for orthopedic surgeons. This type of problem usually happens to adults mainly because many people are neglecting the importance of proper foods. They are usually eating fastfood or junk food. Future technology may hold many solutions.

Causes and Signs of Knee Fracture

First of all, we will discuss about the causes of knee fracture.

Acute knee injuries can cause pain and swelling with difficulty bending the knee and weight-bearing. If the swelling occurs immediately, it may suggest a ligament tear or fracture. In this situation, the torn piece of cartilage folds upon itself and does not allow the knee to extend. If the swelling arises over a period of many hours, meniscal or cartilage injuries may be pinpointed as the cause. However, injuries to the knee may involve more than one structure and the symptoms may not present themselves classically. This is why it may also be hard to diagnose the injury and find the location of the fractured bone.

Giving way or a feeling of instability of the knee, or, popping or grinding in the knee is associated with cartilage or meniscus tears. "Locking" is the term used when the knee joint refuses to completely straighten, and this is almost always due to torn cartilage.

Longer-term symptoms that point to knee problems will include pain and swelling in addition to other complaints. Inflammation in the joint may be caused by even a minor activity. Swelling may be intermittent, brought on by activity, and may gradually resolve as the inflammation decreases.
Pain, too, may come and go and may not occur right away with activity but might be delayed as the inflammation develops. Pain can also be felt when you are doing specific activities.

These are only some of the symptoms that you should watch out for in knee fractures. But for your safety, it would be best to consult the doctor even if you only observed one or two symptoms.