Fracture

A Broken Bone Extremely Common

Approximately 6.8 million Americans Break a Bone Each Year On Average, Every Person in the United States Will Experience

Two Broken Bones Over the Course of a Lifetime. 

How Do Bones Break? Bones are made up of bone cells, proteins, and minerals.

Although Bones Are Amazingly Tough (One Cubic Inch Can Withstand Loads of Almost 19,000 Pounds, About Four Times the Strength of Concrete) - they can still break.

Like a Wooden Pencil, Bones Can Bend To A Certain Extent, However, Once the Pressure Is Too Much or Too Sudden, the Bone Might Break, or Fracture.

Types of Fractures There's More Than One Type of Fracture Can Be

Hairline Fracture (Very Thin Break in the Bone) Broken or Shattered Into Two or More Pieces

Fractures Occur in the Following Ways: Oblique; Comminuted; Spiral; Compound; Greenstick; Transverse and Simple

Types of Fractures Oblique: Break Occurs

Diagonally Across the Bone

Comminuted: Bone Is Broken, Splintered or Crushed Into a Number of Pieces

Spiral: The Break Travels Around the Bone.

Compound: The Bone Sticks Through the Skin

Types of Fractures

Greenstick Bone Cracks One Side Only Not All the Way Through Usually Only Seen in

Children Due to Softness of Their Bones

Transverse:Complete Fracture in Which the Break Is Straight Across the Bone

Simple Or Closed Partial Break on Bone No Open Skin Wound

Compound Fracture Also Called an Open Fracture Occurs When There is a Break

in the Skin Around a Broken Bone.

To Be Classified as Compound Fracture, Outside Air (and Dirt and

Bacteria) Must Be Able to Get to the Fracture Site Without a Barrier of Skin or Soft-Tissue.

Therefore,Bone Does Not Need to be Through the Skin in Order for the Injury to be Called a Compound Fracture.

The Fuss About Compound Fractures Injuries Are Open to the Outside World

There Is a Very Significant Risk of Developing an Infection Around the Fracture.

If Infection Develops,There Can Be Problems with Healing Process

Therefore, Compound Fractures Are Generally Treated with Surgery to Clean the Site of Injury and Stabilize the Fracture.

Spiral Fracture Also Called Torsion

Fracture Break Spirals Around the

Bone Common In a Twisting

Injury Can Only Be Caused If a

Limb (Arm or Leg) Is Twisted in Such a Way That Causes the Bone to Break.

Spiral Fracture Caused by Certain

Types of Accidents Especially in Sports,

Especially Skiing

Abuse Arm or Leg is Twisted

by the Abuser

Causes of Spiral Fractures In Skiing - skiers lock their feet into the skis in sturdy ski

boots, if a ski breaks or the skier loses control and the ski rotates, the leg may be violently twisted in one direction, creating a textbook spiral fracture.

Spiral Fracture has become famous as a warning sign of abuse, especially in children, because the twisting motion necessary could be caused by something such as a parent or guardian grabbing and twisting the arm or leg of a child. When doctors see spiral fractures in children, it may set off warning bells.

Greenstick Fractures Commonly Seen in

Children Bones Are softer and More

Flexible Than Those of an Adult, So They're More Likely to Bend Than Break Completely

Flexibility Can Result in a Greenstick Fracture.

Bone Cracks but doesn't Break All the Way Through - Like When One Tries to Break a Green Stick of Wood

GreenStick Fractures May Occur When a Child Falls While Playing or

Participating in Sports.

Arm Bones Are the Most Likely to be Harmed Because of the Instinct to Throw out the Arms to Catch Fall.

Can Be Difficult to Diagnose, Because It May Not Cause All the Classic Signs and Symptoms of a Broken Bone

Greenstick Fractures - Test/Diagnosis

X-rays of Both Injured and UnInjured Limbs for Comparison Purposes

Ultrasound or Computerized Tomography (CT) Scan for Harder to See Cases

Greenstick Fractures - Treatment Immobilization of Injured Bone So It Can Grow

Back. Methods

Cast: Most Common Removable Splint: Maybe Taken Off Briefly So Child

May Bathe or Shower

X-Ray Taken Again in 7 - 10 Days to Ensure Healing Process Is Occurring

GreenStick Fractures - Prevention

Encourage Regular Exercise, Which Builds Strong Bones.

Ensure Child Always Wears Safety Gear for Sports.

Use Car Seats and Seat Belts

Provide Adequate Calcium in Child's Diet

Possible Fracture CareFor All Types

Fixation Reduction Traction Nutrition

Influences and Aids Healing Process

Fixation As Fracture Care

External (Pictured Left) - Casts, Splints and Pins Inserted Through the Skin

Internal (Pictured Right) - Pins, Plates, Rods, Screws and Wires Applied During Open Reduction

Reduction as Fracture Care Correction Done By

Realigning Bone Fragments

Closed - Manipulation Without Entering the Body

Open - Making Surgical Incision at Site of Fracture Necessary When Bony

Fragments Need to Be Removed

Necessary When Internal Fixation Such as Plates or Pins Required

Sample Fracture Care - Compound Fracture Treated With Open Reduction Then Internal Fixation

Role of Nutrition In Fracture Care Healing Time for Broken

Bones Influenced by a Number of Variables Impacted by the Availability of key Nutrients to Support Bone Healing and a Healthy Blood Supply

Good Supply of Nutrients Such as Calcium, Vitamin D, Vitamin A and Vitamin C Play a Key Role

Roles of Key Nutrients Calcium: With vitamin D, Essential Combination for the

Production and Maintenance of Healthy Bones and Prevention of Osteoporosis. Supplementation May Also Reduce Fracture Rates by as Much as 50%.

Vitamin D: Facilitates the Absorption of Calcium in the Intestinal Tract; Can Increase Calcium Absorption by 65%. Vitamin D Deficiency Is Present in 40% of Those Admitted to the Hospital for a Hip Fracture. Systemic Vitamin D Production Decreases in the Elderly, in People Who are House Bound, and During the Winter

Roles of Key Nutrients Vitamin A:Helps Promote the Growth of Strong Bone

and, Along with Beta Carotene, Is Also an Antioxidant and Excellent Free Radical Quencher. Deficiency Has Been Linked with an Increase in Wound Healing Time

Vitamin C:Important in Repair of Bones and Connective Tissue. Plays a Crucial role in the Manufacture of Collagen, which Forms the Connective Tissue in Skin, Bones, Teeth,Cartilage, Ligaments, Vertebral Discs, Joint Linings and Capillary Walls. Vitamin C Deficiency May Prolong Healing Time

References

Images and Information Gathered From: Wikepedia.org Healthline.com Mediniche.com Medicinenet.com