Today's topic is a fracture. A fracture is a medical term for a broken bone it is a medical condition characterized by a partial or complete break in the continuity of the bone most human bones are strong and can generally withstand strong impact or forces however bones break when the pressure or force applied to them is more than what they can normally withstand or if there is something wrong with them. Bones are the skeleton of the body that allows us to interact with our environment they act as attachment points for muscles that allow for running, jumping, sitting, kneeling, grasping, and lifting as we age.
The bones become brittle and the
force they can handle or withstand reduces which increases the risk of fracture immediate
medical care is needed after a bone is fractured, as serious fractures can have
severe complications if not treated immediately complications include damage to
the blood vessels and infections of the bone or surrounding tissue.
TYPES OF FRACTURE
TRAUMATIC FRACTURE This type of fracture is sustained from a trauma such as
fractures due to a fall accident fight etc
PATHOLOGIC FRACTURE This type is a result of an underlying condition or
disease that has already weakened the bone such as cancer or osteoporosis.
CLOSED FRACTURE It is also a simple fracture in a closed fracture the broken
bone does not break the underlying skin.
OPEN FRACTURE in this type the broken bone tears the skin and may thus expose
the bone to contamination with an open fracture there is a high risk of
infection.
TRANSVERSE FRACTURE is a fracture where the break is in a straight line across the
bone.
SPIRAL FRACTURE is a fracture where at least one part of the bone has been twisted.
OBLIQUE FRACTURE is a fracture where the break is diagonal across the bone. IMPACTED FRACTURE is a fracture where one fragment of bone goes into another bone fragments are driven into each other.
AVULSION FRACTURE is a fracture where a fragment of bone is separated or pulled off
by a ligament or tendon.
COMPLETE FRACTURE a fracture in which the bone breaks completely.
Types of complete fractures are
common.
NEUTERED FRACTURE bone fragments break into three or more pieces.
SINGLE FRACTURE bone
fragment breaks in one place into two pieces.
NON-DISPLACED FRACTURE bone fragments break into pieces and stay in their normal
alignment.
DISPLACED FRACTURE bone fragment breaks into pieces that shift off their
normal alignment.
INCOMPLETE FRACTURE the bone doesn't break completely; incomplete fractures are
more common in children whose bones are softer and more elastic.
Types of incomplete fractures are
GREEN STICK FRACTURE the bone partly fractures on one side while the rest of the
bone is bent
HAIRLINE FRACTURE a
partial fracture of the bone usually in a thin crack.
TAURUS OR BUCCAL FRACTURE the bone is broken on one side and a bump or raised buckle
grows on the other side causing falls direct blows or strikes to the body injuries
from sports osteoporosis, repetitive forces caused by running automobile
accidents risk factors may include being old smoking, alcoholism, use of
corticosteroids being physically inactive, symptoms intense pain in the sight
of the injury swelling bruising and redness in the injured area, deformity in
the injured area difficulty moving or supporting
the weight with the affected area.
For diagnosis and treatment, the doctor
will ask about symptoms examine the injury, and look for other injuries that may
have occurred. In cases where x-ray alone is insufficient CT scan or MRI may be
used treatment options depend on the type and location of the fracture. The
first goal of treatment is to try to put the broken pieces back into their proper
position and stabilize them as they heal pieces of broken bone should be kept immobile
until they have been mended a cast may be used to stabilize the broken bone the cast
may be made of fiber or glass and it will help stabilize the injured area and
keep broken pieces compact until they heal complex injuries may require surgery.