Bone fracture is a common injury that affects people young and old. Bone fractures encompass a wide range of injuries that affect bone, not necessarily an injury that “breaks” the bone into two pieces. Cracks in the bone, for example, are also considered a type of fracture that causes symptoms and requires treatment.

 

Bones are generally very resilient and can withstand great forces, but when the impact is more than the bone can withstand or the bones are weaker than normal, such as having osteoporosis, a bone fracture will occur. Bone fracture range from mild to severe according to the type of fracture, and how much damage soft tissue damage was caused around the injury.

 

Bone fractures heal on their own over time and the pieces of the bone fuse together again, but that does not mean it does need treatment. A bone specialist will ensure the pieces of bone are set in their correct position and then a cast is usually used to hold the pieces together until the bone heals.

 

The signs of a bone fracture can vary greatly according to the type of fracture and affected bone, but bone fractures often cause:

 

Pain and Swelling

An injury can cause blood or fluid to leak into the skin, muscle, fat, which can cause swelling. If the area around a very recent injury is painful and clearly swollen, a bone might be fractured.

 

Bruising

Bruising around the injury site can also indicate a fracture. The reason for this is that a bone fracture might cause soft tissue damage that leads to bleeding. Additionally, blood may be leaking from the broken bone.

 

Deformity

Deformity of the affected limb is probably the best sign that a fracture has occurred. You may notice the injured area, such as the forearm, is bent at an unusual angle, which usually means the bone has been broken.

 

Reduced Function

Another important sign in recognizing a bone fracture is the loss of function in the affected limb. If the injury was sustained to the leg or foot, you may be unable to put weight on the affected limb. Additionally, the movement of the affected limb may become limited or may not be movable at all.

 

Grating Sensation

A fracture may cause bone pieces to rub against each other and cause a grating sensation when attempting to move the limb.

 

If you suspect you have a bone fracture, it is important to seek care as soon as possible to get started on the proper treatment.