Fractures

What is a fracture?

A fracture is another word for a broken bone. It happens when your bone is hit with a lot of force or pressure, more than it can handle. This might happen during a fall, a car accident, while playing sports or because of overuse or a medical condition that weakens your bones, like osteoporosis.

There are different types of fractures. Some are small cracks, while others can break the bone into two or more pieces. Sometimes, the bone stays in place but other times it moves out of position. Some heal with minimal treatment, while others need surgery or specialized care.

Symptoms of a fracture

Fracture signs include:

• Pain
• Swelling
• Bruising or redness
• Trouble moving the injured area or joints near it
• Difficulty bearing weight
• Deformity that you can see, in severe cases

If you suspect a fracture, get medical care right away. Getting immediate treatment can help prevent complications like the bone healing in the wrong position (malunion) or not healing at all (nonunion), stiffness and chronic pain. Some fractures can be treated in a provider’s office, but for others you’ll need emergency care.

Call 911 if:

• The bone breaks through the skin.
• There is heavy bleeding or numbness.
• The limb looks deformed or out of place.
• You think you may have broken a bone in your spine.
• The person who may have a fracture is in severe pain or unresponsive.

How is a fracture diagnosed? 

If your health care provider suspects a fracture, they will ask you about what happened when the injury occurred and they will examine the area.

They may order imaging tests, including:

• X-rays: These are the most common imaging test to confirm a fracture. They show clear images of the bone.
• CT scans: These are used to create images of complex fractures or fractures in joints. 
• MRI scans: These can help detect stress fractures and soft tissue damage in the injured area.

Types of fractures 

Generally, smaller amounts of force (like with falls) create more mild fractures and stronger forces (like those from car accidents or gunshots) create more serious fractures. Fractures are classified based on how the bone breaks and whether the skin is affected. 

Common types of fractures include:

• Open fracture: Also called a compound fracture. With this type, the bone breaks through the skin. It needs medical care right away, to treat both the fracture and the risk of infection in the skin and the bone.
• Closed fracture: With this type, the bone is broken but it doesn’t come through the skin.
• Comminuted fracture: In a comminuted fracture, the bone shatters into multiple pieces. These fractures usually need surgery. 
• Compression fracture: The bone is crushed, so it’s wider and flatter than normal.
• Stress fracture: Stress fractures are tiny cracks in the bone caused by repeated impact. They are common in runners and other athletes.
• Transverse, oblique and spiral fractures: These types of fractures are described by the different break patterns in the bone. Transverse fractures are straight across the bone, oblique fractures are diagonal across the bone and spiral fractures are twisted through the bone.
• Greenstick fracture: An incomplete fracture where part of a bone is broken and the other side bends but doesn’t break. These fractures are typically seen in children with immature bone.
• Impacted fracture: In these cases, one piece of bone is pushed into another, so healing is more complicated.
• Displaced fracture: A fracture where the broken bones are pushed out of alignment.
• Non-displaced fracture: A fracture where the broken bones stay in line.

Treatment options for fractures 

The right treatment depends on the type of fracture and how severe it is. 

For less-severe fractures, treatment options may include:

• Casts and splints to stabilize the bone so it can heal. Most bones heal well once they are repositioned and held in place.
• Bracing, which supports your bone and still allows some movement. Bracing is only an option for some types of fractures in certain bones, like the upper arm, shin, ankle and spine.

Severe fractures may need:

• Internal fixation, where metal plates, screws or rods are surgically placed inside the bone to stabilize the break.
• External fixation, where a frame outside the body holds the bone in place using pins and screws that go through the skin and into the bone.
• Bone grafts, which can reinforce bones that are severely damaged.

Your provider will recommend the best approach to help make sure your bone heals properly and may suggest medication you can take for the pain.

How long does it take for a bone to heal? 

Most fractures heal within six to eight weeks. The recovery time depends on:

• The type of fracture and how severe it is: Some breaks, like stress fractures and severe comminuted fractures, take longer to heal.
• Your age and overall health: Your fracture may heal more quickly if you are young and healthy.
• Whether surgery was needed: More severe fractures may require extra time.
• Following recovery guidelines: Avoiding too much stress on the injured area helps speed healing.
• Ongoing care: Regular checkups with your provider can help you recover properly.

Rehabilitation and recovery 

You will probably lose muscle strength and range of motion when you are healing. And after your cast or brace is removed, or after surgery, you may need to limit your movement until your bone is stable and has demonstrated some degree of healing.

As your bone heals, rehabilitation can help you regain your strength and mobility. Your provider may recommend:

• Weight-bearing exercises to improve your bone strength
• Physical therapy to help you regain movement and flexibility
• Returning to normal activities gradually, so you don’t reinjure the bone

Completing your rehab program can speed up your recovery and help prevent future fractures.

How to reduce your risk of fractures 

You can’t always prevent fractures, but taking these steps to keep your bones healthy can lower your risk:

• Maintain a healthy diet: Ask your doctor if a calcium and/or vitamin D supplement is needed.
• Stay active: Take part in regular weight-bearing exercises.
• Prevent falls: Keep walkways clear, use handrails, wear the right shoes and utilize assistive devices (like a cane or walker) when needed.
• Wear protective gear: Use helmets and padding when you’re playing sports or involved in high-risk activities.
• Use your seatbelt: Buckle up to help minimize injuries from a car accident.
• Avoid tobacco: Tobacco and nicotine make your bones weaker and slower to heal.

Get expert fracture care at Banner Health 

If you or a loved one has a fracture, getting the right medical care is important for a smooth recovery. At Banner Health, our orthopedic specialists provide advanced imaging tests, personalized treatment plans and expert rehab.

Schedule an appointment right away or visit an urgent care location if you think you have a fracture. For a severe fracture, call 911 or get emergency care immediately.