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Patient education: Fractures (The Basics)

Patient education: Fractures (The Basics)

What is a fracture? — A "fracture" is another word for a broken bone. There are different kinds of fractures, depending on how the bone breaks. When a bone breaks, it might crack, break all the way through, or shatter. If a broken bone sticks out of the skin or can be seen through a wound, doctors call it an "open" fracture. If the bone does not stick out of the skin or cannot be seen through a wound, doctors call it a "closed" fracture.

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

What are the symptoms of a fracture? — Symptoms depend on which bone breaks and the kind of break it is. 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. Imaging tests create pictures of the inside of the body.

How are fractures treated? — Treatment depends, in part, on the type of fracture you have and how serious it is. The goal of treatment is to have the ends of the broken bone line up with each other so that 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. The cast, splint, or brace will keep your bone in the correct position so that it can heal.

If the ends of your broken bone are not in line with each other, your doctor will need to line them up. To do this, they can 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 the correct 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 that is outside 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 that you take an over-the-counter medicine for your pain. Over-the-counter medicines 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 that you work with a physical therapist (exercise expert). The physical therapist 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 fractures take weeks to months to heal. Fractures in children usually heal faster than fractures in adults.

Can I do anything to improve the healing process? — Yes. It's important to follow all of your doctor's instructions while your fracture is healing. For example, they will probably recommend that you eat a healthy diet that includes getting enough calcium, protein, and vitamin D (figure 1 and table 1). They will also probably recommend that you:

Not play certain sports

Not smoke – If you smoke, it can take longer for your fracture to heal.

Not get your cast wet, if you have a cast that shouldn't get wet

When should I call my doctor or nurse? — After treatment, your doctor or nurse will tell you when to call them. In general, you should call if:

Your pain, swelling, or other symptoms get worse

You get a fever

You can't move part of your body

You get your cast wet, and it's not supposed to get wet

What can I do to prevent getting another fracture? — To protect your body from getting hurt, you can:

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 or drive 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 that they don't break easily, you can:

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: Fractures in children – Discharge instructions (The Basics)
Patient education: How to care for your cast (The Basics)
Patient education: How to care for your child's cast (The Basics)
Patient education: Calcium and vitamin D for bone health (The Basics)
Patient education: Osteoporosis (The Basics)
Patient education: Common wrist injuries (The Basics)
Patient education: Finger fracture (The Basics)
Patient education: Clavicle fracture (The Basics)
Patient education: Hip fracture (The Basics)
Patient education: Rib fractures in adults (The Basics)
Patient education: Ankle fracture (The Basics)
Patient education: Lower leg fracture (The Basics)
Patient education: Vertebral compression fracture (The Basics)
Patient education: Hand fracture (The Basics)
Patient education: Neck fracture (The Basics)
Patient education: Pelvic fracture (The Basics)
Patient education: Toe fracture (The Basics)
Patient education: Paget disease of bone (The Basics)
Patient education: Surgery to fix a broken bone (The Basics)
Patient education: Forearm fracture (The Basics)
Patient education: Wrist fracture (The Basics)
Patient education: Femur fracture (The Basics)
Patient education: Setting a broken bone in adults (The Basics)
Patient education: Setting a broken bone in children (The Basics)
Patient education: Pin, plate, or screw removal (The Basics)
Patient education: Heel or foot fracture (The Basics)
Patient education: Patella fracture (The Basics)
Patient education: X-ray (The Basics)
Patient education: Shoulder or upper arm fracture (The Basics)

This topic retrieved from UpToDate on: Feb 02, 2024.
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