Fracture - The Basics

A fracture is the medical term for a broken bone.  Unfortunately, there are times in life when we may unexpectedly experience this painful, possibly life-altering, situation.  Fractures are common and clinicians are familiar with them, as the average personal has two during a lifetime.  Fractures occur when the physical force that is exerted on the bone is stronger than the bone itself. 

The risk of fracture depends some on your age.  Broken bones are very common in childhood, but are generally less complicated than when they occur in adults.  With age bones become more brittle, and you are more likely to suffer fractures from falls that otherwise would not have occurred when you were younger. 

There are many types of fractures, but the main categories are displaced, non-displaced, open, and closed.  Displaced and non-displaced fractures refer to the way the bone breaks.  Following are various types of fractures:

·      Displaced fracture.  The bone snaps into two or more parts and moves so that the two ends are not lined up straight. 

·      Comminuted fracture.  The bone breaks into many pieces.  

·      Non-displaced fracture.  The bone cracks either part or all the way through, but does not move and maintains its proper alignment.

·      Closed fracture.  Bone breaks but there is no puncture or open wound in the skin.

·      Open fracture.  Bone breaks through the skin.  It also may recede back into the wound and not be visible through the skin at all times.  There is also a risk of a deep bone infection.

·      Greenstick fracture.  Incomplete fracture that results in the bone being bent, instead of broken.  This occurs most often in children.

·      Transverse fracture.  The broken piece of the bone is at a right angle to the bone’s axis.

·      Oblique fracture.  The break in the bone has a curved or sloped pattern.

·      Buckled fracture.  This is also known as an impacted fracture.  The ends of the bone are driven into each other.  Commonly seen in arm fractures in children.

·      Pathologic fracture.  Caused by a disease that weakens the bones, such as cancer.

·      Stress fracture.  This is noted by a hairline crack in the bone.

The severity of a fracture will depend upon its location and the damage that is done to the bone itself, along with the tissue that surrounds it.  Serious fractures obviously will have more dangerous complications if they are not treated immediately.  Possible complications include damage to blood vessels or nerves and infection of the bone or the surrounding tissues.  Recovery time from a fracture varies and depends on the age and the health of the individual that is involved.  A minor fracture in a child may heal within a few weeks, whereas a serious fracture in an older adult may take many months to heal.

The treatment plan will depend upon the type of fracture that is experienced by the individual.  Total Home Health has a program that is right for you and any type of fracture that you may be diagnosed with.  Our highly qualified, professional, and compassionate staff is experienced in caring for individuals with fractures on a daily basis.  When you enroll with Total Home Health, we will be with you for each step of your journey and provide you with the highest quality of treatment so that your fracture may heal as quickly and as efficiently as possible.  Enroll today!