Patient education: Fractures in adults (The Basics)

What is a fracture? — 

This is a broken bone. A bone breaks when a force is applied to it and it cannot withstand the force.

People with a condition called "osteoporosis" have a higher chance of getting a fracture. That's because osteoporosis makes the bones weak. It is especially common in older females.

When a bone breaks, it 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.

●"Stress fracture" – This is caused by overuse. It often happens in the foot or shin bones. It is more common in people who do an activity over and over, such as running, jumping, or dancing.

●"Avulsion" fracture – This is when a person moves a joint forcefully, and a ligament or tendon stretches or tears. It can pull so hard on the bone a small part of the bone cracks or breaks off.

What are the symptoms of a fracture? — 

Symptoms depend on which bone breaks and the kind of break. Common symptoms can include:

●Pain, swelling, or bruising over the area

●The area looking abnormal, bent, or not the usual shape

●Not being able to move or put weight on that part of the body

●Numbness in the area of the broken bone

If a fracture injures a nerve, this can also cause symptoms in nearby areas. For example, a break to the upper arm bone might cause pain, tingling, or weakness in the elbow and wrist.

Is there a test for a fracture? — 

Yes. Your doctor or nurse will ask about your symptoms, do an exam, and take an X-ray.

They might do other imaging tests, such as a CT, bone scan, or ultrasound. These create pictures of the inside of the body.

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.

They can also do surgery to put your bone back in position. This can involve:

●Using screws, pins, rods, or plates to fix a bone inside the body

●Putting pins or screws through the skin and into the bone, and then attaching the pins or screws to a bar outside of the skin

Your doctor will also treat your pain. If you have a severe fracture, they can prescribe a strong pain medicine. If you have a mild fracture, they 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).

After your bone heals, your doctor might recommend you work with a physical therapist (exercise expert). They can show you exercises and stretches to strengthen your muscles and help your joints move more easily.

How long do fractures take to heal? — 

It depends on the body part involved and the type of fracture. Most take weeks to months to heal. Fractures in children usually heal faster than those in adults.

How can I help my fracture heal? — 

Follow all your doctor's instructions while your fracture is healing. For example, they will probably recommend you eat a healthy diet that includes getting enough calcium, protein, and vitamin D (figure 1 and table 1).

They will also probably recommend you:

●Not play certain sports

●Quit smoking – Your doctor or nurse can help. If you smoke, it can take longer for your fracture to heal or it might not heal.

●Not get your cast wet, if your doctor says it's not waterproof

When should I call my doctor or nurse? — 

After treatment, your doctor or nurse will tell you when to call. In general, call if:

●Your pain, swelling, or other symptoms get worse.

●You get a fever.

●You can't move part of your body.

●You get the cast wet, and it's not supposed to get wet.

How can I prevent getting another fracture? — 

To protect your body from getting hurt, you should:

●Wear safety gear when you bike, ski, rollerblade, or do activities where you could get hurt. Safety gear can include helmets, elbow pads, knee pads, wrist guards, and shin pads.

●Keep walkways clear of clutter, and remove or tack down loose rugs.

●Wear a seatbelt every time you ride in a car.

●Put a non-slip mat in the bathtub and handrails on the stairs (especially for older people).

To help your bones stay strong so they don't break easily, you should:

●Eat and drink foods with a lot of calcium, vitamin D, and protein. Calcium and vitamin D are nutrients that help keep bones strong.

●Get regular exercise, even if it's just taking a daily walk.

More on this topic

Patient education: Fracture in adults – Discharge instructions (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: Pin, plate, or screw removal (The Basics)
Patient education: Calcium and vitamin D for bone health (The Basics)
Patient education: Osteoporosis and osteopenia (low bone mass) (The Basics)
Patient education: Paget disease of bone (The Basics)
Patient education: Facial fractures (The Basics)
Patient education: Nose fracture (The Basics)
Patient education: Neck fracture (The Basics)
Patient education: Vertebral compression fracture (The Basics)
Patient education: Clavicle fracture (The Basics)
Patient education: Shoulder or upper arm fracture (The Basics)
Patient education: Elbow fracture (The Basics)
Patient education: Forearm fracture (The Basics)
Patient education: Wrist fracture (The Basics)
Patient education: Hand fracture (The Basics)
Patient education: Finger fracture (The Basics)
Patient education: Hip fracture (The Basics)
Patient education: Pelvic fracture (The Basics)
Patient education: Femur fracture (The Basics)
Patient education: Patella fracture (The Basics)
Patient education: Lower leg fracture (The Basics)
Patient education: Ankle fracture (The Basics)
Patient education: Heel or foot fracture (The Basics)
Patient education: Toe fracture (The Basics)