Fracture Treatment Specialist

What is a fracture?

A fracture is a break in your bone that results from:

• Falling
• Car accident
• Osteoporosis
• Sports injury
• Other traumatic injuries

Fractures often occur from high impact placed on a bone. They can change the shape of your bone and heal improperly if left untreated. Seek medical attention immediately if you suspect a broken bone.

What are the symptoms of fractures?

If you experience the following signs or symptoms, you might have a fracture:

• Swelling
• Tenderness
• Bruising
• A bone deformity
• Intense pain
• Difficulty moving a limb
• Numbness
• Tingling

In some cases, you can see that a bone is out of its normal alignment or pokes through the skin.

What are the different types of fractures?

There are numerous types of fractures. A closed fracture happens when your bone is broken but it doesn’t break through the skin. In a displaced fracture, you might notice a gap between the two ends of a bone.

A complete fracture is when your bone separates into one or more pieces, and a partial fracture involves an incomplete break. Hairline fractures are like small cracks.

What is fracture treatment?

Your podiatrist examines your injury, reviews your symptoms, and completes an X-ray, CT scan, or MRI to determine the extent of your fracture. Your personalized treatment plan might include:

Casts or braces

You might wear a cast as part of fracture treatment to immobilize the bone once your doctor aligns it properly. Wearing a brace allows limited movement while a bone heals, which is useful for minor fractures.

Traction

During traction, your doctor uses steady pulling action (a system of weights and pulleys) to stretch tendons and muscles to realign your bone.

Surgery

Sometimes surgery is necessary to repair broken bones. Your podiatrist might insert metal screws, pins, or rods outside of the skin (external fixation) or beneath the skin (internal fixation) to reconstruct, reposition, or stabilize bones while they heal.

What happens after fracture treatment?

A fracture takes several weeks or months to heal, depending on the severity of your injury. Follow your doctor’s after-care instructions. Take medications as prescribed, wear a cast or brace, and avoid physical activity until your podiatrist says you can. To help prevent future breaks, eat a healthy diet rich in calcium and vitamin D and get regular exercise.

Don’t neglect medical care for a fracture, as it can heal improperly and cause more pain. Schedule an appointment with Foot & Ankle Specialty Center by phone or online today.