Open and Closed Fractures

A fracture is called simple (closed) when the overlying skin is not broken and the bone is not exposed to the air; it is called compound (open) when the bone is exposed. When a bone weakened by disease breaks from a minor stress, it is termed a pathological fracture.

An incomplete, or greenstick, fracture occurs when the bone cracks and bends but does not completely break; when the bone does break into separate pieces, the condition is called a complete type. Fractured bones can also be classified by their configuration on the bone: a transverse fracture is perpendicular to the axis of the bone, while an oblique one crosses the bone axis at approximately a 45 degree angle. A spiral fractured bone, characterized by a helical break, commonly results from a twisting injury.

All fractures attempt to heal in the same fashion. The injured bone quickly produces new tissue that extends across the broken or cracked line and joins the broken pieces together. An impacted fracture occurs when the broken ends of the bone are jammed together by the force of the injury. A comminuted fracture is one in which the broken ends of the bone are shattered into many pieces. At first this new tissue is soft and puttylike; later, it is bony and hard. While re-forming, the bone must be protected from weight bearing and movement between the fracture ends.

The most common symptoms of fractured bones are pain and tenderness at the site, a sensation of grating or grinding with movement, and inability to use the limb or body part supported by the bone. Physical signs include deformity of the part, swelling in the region of the injured area, discoloration of the overlying skin, and abnormal mobility of the bone.

Fracture Treatment for Different Types of Fractures

Fracture is the separation of bone into two or more parts. They are classified into different types, such as open and closed fracture. The first type is more challenging and it creates a lot of problems for the physicians. In earlier time, we had limited technologies for fracture treatment. Most of the broken bones are treated by splinting and casting. These are proven reliable methods though and they are widely used treatments in the past and until now. But these are not the only treatments available for fractured bones. We have so many other technologies in medical science now which are available for us. For complicated fractures, splinting and casting method are not appropriate. They need to be surgically treated.

In open fractures, the bones may break into several parts which are placed together and their alignment is set. These broken parts are pinned up by removable pins surgically so that they can heal properly. These pins can be removed later.

In a comminuted fracture, permanent hardware is used for support. Metallic plates and rods are used as hardware support. During this type of surgery, the patient will feel stiffness and lot of pain. This is why it is only advised when no other option is available.

Doctors advise patients to take foods rich in calcium, protein and vitamin D for faster healing of the fractured bone. It would be better to consult a dietitian for planning a balanced diet rich in calcium and vitamin D needed for your body. In addition to that, some medicines are also recommended so that the healing process becomes faster.

Choosing the Right Treatment for Fracture

There are many types of fractures. They are classified under different categories. Treatment varies depending on the particular category to which the injury belongs to. This is why the diagnosis of the injury is critical to the identification of the treatment. The X-ray and radiographs should only be conducted and analyzed by experts.

Among all the available treatments for fractured bones, surgery is the last option. This is also the case with compression injuries. Surgery is only chosen as the last resort when no other treatment is working because it is very risky. Most of the times, the result may not be what you wished for. In worst cases, your body can become paralyzed.

Finally, the treatment for the fracture also depends on whether it is open or closed. Open fractures are treated surgically to ensure better and fast healing while closed ones can be treated by splinting or casting.

The principle of casting is very simple yet very important. Cast one joint above and one joint below the fractured area and care must be taken so that the tendons and muscles do not tug at the affected site. The healing starts after the casting is done but it usually takes about 2-3 months depending on the type of fracture.

Despite the availability of various treatment options, it would still be better to avoid fracture-related injuries. Many sports men face the problem of stress fracture. As we know it, prevention is better than cure. Players and sportsmen must wear a helmet, knee pad, elbow pad, and other safety gears to avoid any chance of injuries in the future. Also they must not play if they feel continuous pain in any part of their body.