Bone fractures occur when an
outside force is applied to them. Most of
the time, bones can with stand some
outside impact, but when the force is
too great, they fracture.
Types of
Fractures
The severity of a
fracture usually depends on the force
that caused a fracture. Bones may
crack, split, or shatter. If the bone
breaks in such a way that bone
fragments stick out through the skin or
a wound penetrates down to the broken
bone, the fracture is called an "open"
fracture. This type of fracture is
particularly serious because once the
skin is broken, infection in both the
wound and the bone can occur.
Diagnosis
Generally,
fractures are painful, making use of the
fractured part of the body extremely
difficult. In some cases, a person can
still use a fractured bone, such as a
bone in the hand. In either case, you
should contact your physician and
receive emergency care immediately.
X-rays are usually necessary to confirm
the fracture’s location and severity and
prescribe proper treatment.
Treatment
It is very
important to control the movement of a
broken bone. Moving a broken or
dislocated bone can cause additional
damage to the bone, nearby blood
vessels, and nerves or other tissues
surrounding the bone. That’s why
people giving first aid or emergency
treatment may splint or brace your injury
before medical treatment is given. Also,
if there is an open wound it should be
covered by a clean cloth or bandage on
the way to further medical
treatment.
Broken bones must be put back
into position and prevented from
moving out of place until they are
healed. Treatment for repairing broken
bones depends on the severity of the
break, the specific broken bone, and
other factors.
Last Updated: December 03, 2007
