Fractures

The term used by the medical profession for a broken bone is fracture. The average person experiences two fractures in their lifetime. A fracture occurs when one of the 206 bones in the body is subjected to excessive force, stress, pressure or a strong impact. If this force is more than the strength of the bone can withstand, a fracture is probable. Younger children and the elderly are more likely to fracture a bone than all other age groups. The bones of children are continually growing and thus are not as strong as they will be later in life. As the body ages there is a propensity for bones to become brittle or be affected by disease. Depending on the severity of the fracture and access to proper treatment, broken bones generally will heal within three to eight weeks.

Types of Fractures

Fractures fall into four categories. They are complete fracture, incomplete fracture, compound fracture, and simple fracture.

Complete Fracture

As the name suggests, a complete fracture occurs when a bone is completely broken into two or more parts. A complete fracture can be categorized as transverse, which means that the break is at a 90 degree angle to the normal bone alignment. A complete fracture can also be considered an oblique, or spiral fracture, which means that the break is at an angle to the axis of the bone. A comminuted fracture is when there are multiple pieces of broken bone at the fracture point.

Incomplete Fracture

Sometimes called a greenstick fracture, an incomplete fracture occurs when the bone is bent but remains relatively intact. This type of fracture is most common in children.

Compound Fracture

When one or both ends of the bone break through the skin, it is classified as a compound fracture.

Simple Fracture

If the broken bone pieces do not pierce through the skin, the fracture is considered a simple fracture.

Symptoms

While tenderness, swelling and pain can be caused by injuries other than fractures, it is important to pay attention to these warning signs and consult a physician if the symptoms persist. Hearing a “pop” when the injury occurs is an important indicator of a potentially serious injury. Obvious deformities of the injured area would be another clue to determining whether or not to see a doctor for the injury. When a fracture occurs blood vessels will rupture. This causes bruising in the vicinity of the broken bone will usually be rapid. If it is painful to place weight on the injured region or if pressure or movement causes pain, conferring with a doctor is recommended. A compound fracture will be obvious and requires immediate treatment.

Prevention

Exercise, nutrition and basic safety precautions will go far in preventing serious fractures. Walking, jogging and rope jumping are all weight bearing exercises that will help build and sustain strong bones. Calcium is the nutrient required to help build and maintain strong bones. The average adult requires about 1000 milligrams of calcium per day. Children under three should get at least 300 milligrams of calcium a day, while kids from 4 to 18 years need between 800-1300 milligrams. It should be possible to get an adequate amount of calcium by eating a normal diet. However, calcium supplements are available if you feel you need to enhance your calcium intake. When participating in sports, be sure that you and your loved ones wear the appropriate safety equipment designed to protect bones for that specific activity.