Understanding Fractures – Types, Causes, and Symptoms

Bone fractures refer to a complete or partial break in the bone, and it’s often challenging for the patient. A bone might get fractured when something hits or kicks the body hard enough to damage it and break it into one or more parts. Irrespective of the size of the breakage, if at least one part is broken or cracked, it is called a fracture.

Types of Bone Fractures

There are many bone fractures, but the most common fracture classifications recognized by any reputed orthopedic & sports medicine center are discussed below.

• Simple or Closed Fracture: As the name suggests, a simple bone fracture occurs when the broken bone remains within one’s body and does not push out or into the skin. Avoid straightening or moving the bone without seeking a medical professional’s help.

• Open or Compound Fracture: In an instance when the cracked bone punctures through the skin, it is termed an open fracture or compound fracture, in which the broken bone ends come into contact with the outside environment. In this type, there is an increased risk of bone infection as it comes in contact with bacteria.

• Partial or Incomplete Fracture: In this type, the bone fracture may bend, crack, or break partially. In other words, the bone did not break into two or more pieces.

• Complete Fracture: Unlike partial breakage, the bone has broken into two or multiple pieces in a full fracture. A total separation of the broken parts characterizes a complete bone fracture.

Causes of Bone Fractures

A bone fracture occurs when a strong force is exerted against a particular bone. When the bone cannot structurally withstand an external force, it is subject to breakage. The common causes of bone fractures include -

• Falls, especially from a height
• Direct blows or kicks to the body
• Traumatic injuries
• Motor vehicle accidents
• Sports injuries
• Child abuse
• Repetitive motions or overuse of certain bones, thus causing stress fractures of the ankle, foot, hip, or tibia.
• Certain diseases may weaken one’s bones, resulting in fractures in the long term.

An orthopedic for the ankle will be the best person to determine the exact cause of one’s bone fracture. By performing diagnostic tests like X-rays, MRIs (Magnetic Resonance Imaging), bone scans, and CT scans, the orthopedic team can determine the site and cause of most fractures.

Signs and Symptoms of a Bone Fracture

The common symptoms of bone fracture include:

• Intense pain
• Swelling
• Bleeding
• Bruising or discoloration of the skin around the broken bone
• Tenderness
• Numbness
• Inability or limited ability to move the body part around the cracked bone
• An unusual bump or deformity

If you have one or more of the above red flags, consult an orthopedic specialty clinic in Utah immediately to start the required treatment without delay.