An accident while playing sports, driving, or a fall in your bathroom can impact your bones. Sometimes, you might experience minor injuries such as dislocation, and other times the bone might fracture.
Other than accidents, a bone fracture might be a result of some medical conditions that weaken your bone, such as bone cancer, osteoporosis, osteogenesis. Osteogenesis is a genetic condition that causes the weakening of your bones. If the fracture is a result of a medical condition, it is known as a pathological fracture.
A break is not a common word among medical professionals, especially orthopedics. Instead, they use a crack to refer to a bone fracture. A fracture can occur on any part of the body, including the skull.
Depending on the impact or health condition, a bone fracture can be closed or open. A closed bone fracture occurs when your bone breaks without causing any damage to the surrounding tissue. If the fracture damages the surrounding tissue, it is referred to as an open or compound fracture.
Compound fractures are more dangerous than closed ones since you might be at risk of infection. Therefore, you should consider visiting an emergency room near you for treatments.
There are several types of fractures, which include:
Some of the signs and symptoms of a fracture include:
In case the fracture affects a large area, the patient might have the following symptoms:
If the patient is having difficulties moving to the nearest health care facility, you should consider contacting paramedics for emergency care services. Alternatively, you can perform first aid if you have any skills and apply a splint when necessary.
Whether you have a partial or complete fracture, you should consider immediate treatments. If the fracture is left untreated, you might be at risk of developing infections or the need for amputation.
If you have a fracture, your doctor at the emergency room will carry out a physical exam, which might be followed by imaging tests, such as x-rays, ultrasound, MRI, and CT-Scan.
Since bone healing is a natural process, the specialist offers treatments that aim to improve the function and mobility of the site of injury. To promote bone healing, the specialist recommends fracture reduction.
Fracture reduction involves pulling bone ligaments or surgery. Therefore, the doctor administers general anesthesia to make you feel relaxed during the procedure. The doctor will then immobilize the affected area and apply a plaster cast.
If you have a bone fracture and need emergency care near you, you can contact us at Alamo City Urgent Care.