Version July 2025
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What are discharge instructions? —
Discharge instructions are information about how to take care of yourself after getting medical care for a health problem.
Below is general information about caring for yourself after a fracture.
What is a fracture? —
This is a broken bone. The bone might crack, break all the way through, or shatter.
There are different types of fractures, depending on which bone breaks and how. Examples include:
●"Open" fracture – This is when the bone sticks out of the skin or can be seen through a wound.
●"Closed" fracture – This is when the bone does not stick out of the skin and cannot be seen through a wound.
How are fractures treated? —
Treatment depends, in part, on the type of fracture and how serious it is. The goal of treatment is to have the ends of the broken bone line up with each other so the bone can heal.
If the ends of your broken bone are already in line with each other, your doctor will put a cast, splint, or brace on that part of the body. This keeps your bone in the correct position so it can heal.
If the ends of your broken bone are not in line with each other, your doctor will probably need to line them up. To do this, they might be able to move your bone to the correct position without doing surgery, and then put a cast, splint, or brace on. In other cases, they need to do surgery to line up the bones.
How do I care for myself at home? —
Ask the doctor or nurse what you should do when you go home. Make sure you understand exactly what you need to do to care for yourself. Ask questions if there is anything you do not understand.
You should also:
●Follow the doctor's instructions for wearing the cast, splint, or brace. This supports and protects the bone as it heals. Some fractures are put in a cast right away. Others are not put in a cast until after the swelling goes down.
●Do not get a cast wet, unless the doctor says it is waterproof.
●Follow instructions for limiting activity and movement until the bone is healed. The doctor or nurse will tell you what activities are safe to do. Increase your activity slowly.
•Avoid heavy lifting, driving, sports, and swimming for at least a week or 2. (The doctor, nurse, or physical therapist will tell you exactly how long to avoid these or other activities.) Over time, slowly increase the level of activity as you get stronger.
•If the broken bone is in your leg, ankle, or foot, follow instructions about "weightbearing." You might not be able to put any weight on that leg. Or you might be able to put some weight on it. You might want to use crutches or a walker to help you move around.
•If the broken bone is in your shoulder, arm, wrist, or hand, you might get a sling to support your arm.
●Prop the part on pillows if possible, keeping it above the level of your heart. This might help lessen pain and swelling.
●The doctor might recommend you take an over-the-counter pain medicine. These include acetaminophen (sample brand name: Tylenol), ibuprofen (sample brand names: Advil, Motrin), and naproxen (sample brand name: Aleve).
●You might get a prescription for stronger pain medicines to take for a short time. Follow the instructions for taking these.
●Ice can help with pain and swelling – Put a cold gel pack, bag of ice, or bag of frozen vegetables on the injured area every 1 to 2 hours, for 15 minutes each time. Put a thin towel between the ice (or other cold object) and the cast, splint, or brace. Ice for at least 6 hours after an injury. It might help to ice longer, even up to 2 days.
●Eat a healthy diet that includes plenty of calcium, vitamin D, and protein (figure 1).
●Quit smoking, if you smoke. Your doctor or nurse can help. Broken bones take longer to heal if you smoke.
●You might need to work with a physical therapist (exercise expert) after your fracture heals. They will suggest exercises and stretches to strengthen your muscles and keep them from getting stiff.
What follow-up care do I need? —
The doctor will want to see you again to check on your progress. Go to these appointments.
When should I call the doctor? —
Call the doctor or nurse for advice if:
●Your arm, hand, leg, or foot of the limb with the broken bone gets very swollen or warm.
●Your fingers or toes turn cold, blue, gray, or numb.
●The cast or splint gets damaged.
●You still have bad pain even after taking pain medicines.
Patient education: Fractures in adults (The Basics)
Patient education: Setting a broken bone in adults (The Basics)
Patient education: Surgery to fix a broken bone (The Basics)
Patient education: How to care for your cast (The Basics)
Patient education: How to care for a splint (The Basics)
Patient education: How to use a shoulder sling (The Basics)
Patient education: How to use crutches (The Basics)
Patient education: How to use a walker (The Basics)
