BONE FRACTURES

Bone Fractures are injuries of bone tissue, which compromise their ability to support the body. A bone fracture can occur in several situations, like a car accident, an assault, a fall in the bathroom or from a height, due to a pre-existing bone disease, like osteoporosis, rickets, and so on. The symptoms of bone fracture may vary depending on the types of bone fractures, their location, as well as their severity. However, every fracture results more or less from an unbalanced force, which overcomes the strength of the bone.

Types Closed (simple) fracture the skin remains intact and there is little damage to surrounding
tissue. Open (compound) fracture the broken bone protrudes through the skin or there is a wound that leads to the fracture site. Complicated fracture in addition to the fracture, there is injury to the surrounding structures. There may be damage to the veins, arteries or nerves and there may also be injury to the lining of the bone (the periosteum).

Symptoms
Pain, the main symptom of bone fracture, usually occurs at the time of the break. A cracking or snapping sound may be heard at the time of fracture. Swelling, tenderness, discoloration and bruising often appear quickly. It's often difficult to move the broken bone, and the bone may appear deformed. Weight bearing may be impossible if a leg or hip is fractured. Numbness or paralysis below the break may occur if blood flow is disrupted by the break.

Problems associated with Bone Fracture

Some of the problems associated with fractures include: Blood loss Injury to organs, tissues or surrounding structures (such as blood vessels) Stunted growth of the bone, if a childs long bone breaks close to the joint.

Treatment
Bone fractures need immobilization to prevent further damage and so the broken ends can knit together and mend. If the broken bone ends are not approximated or near each other, the bone may need to be manipulated so the edges are close enough to heal. Internal fixation devices such as pins, plates or screws placed during surgery hold bone together so it can heal. External fixation devices such as casts and splints also keep the bone in alignment. Stress fractures may require no treatment other than rest, ice and anti-inflammatory medications

Complications
Many fractures are uncomplicated and heal within a few months, but complications can occur. Infection can set in after open fractures. Internal bleeding can cause low blood pressure from blood in the fractures of large bones like the pelvis or femur. Compartment syndrome, a rare but dangerous complication, occurs when muscles and tissues swell after fracture. Blood flow can be compromised by the limited space within the case and muscle death occurs, Merck Manuals states. Pain and numbness are signs of compartment syndrome. Pulmonary embolism occurs when small clots break loose after fractures of the hip and pelvis, and then lodge in the lungs, damaging tissue and decreasing oxygenation to tissues. Pulmonary embolism is the most common cause of death after hip and pelvic fractures. Nerve injuries, poor healing and weakness also may complicate fractures.