The bones in the human body that are most frequently broken are the collarbone, fingers, wrists, ankles, legs, feet, and hips. There are also certain ages when certain types of fractures are more common – such as broken legs and arms in children, and broken hips and wrists in people over the age of 70.
Suffering from a broken bone used to always mean going to the emergency room at the hospital, but that has changed. Orthopedic urgent care centers now offer many of the same types of services that are performed at hospitals, including applying casts on broken bones and surgically repairing a torn tendon.
A bone can break in various ways, and the type of fracture often is related to the person’s age and/or lifestyle. Let’s talk about some of the most common ways that a bone can be broken:
Stress Fracture
A stress fracture can occur in people who perform repetitive motions that put too much stress on the bones; a common example of this is shin splints in joggers. People are also more prone to stress fractures as we get older, because our bones lose their density and are therefore more likely to crack and break. Osteoporosis and rheumatoid arthritis make us more prone to stress fractures in our bones.
Greenstick Fracture
A greenstick fracture usually occurs in children. This is when the bone bends and partially breaks, but not all the way through. It is named for its resemblance to the way a green (young) branch breaks, because the branch is still somewhat soft so the break isn’t as severe as in an older, harder branch.
Transverse Fracture
This is when a bone breaks clean and straight across. This is one of the simplest types of broken bones and one of the easiest to correct and heal.
Oblique Fracture
This type of fracture occurs in a diagonal angle across a bone. If it is not treated by a physician, it could eventually move out of place and pierce the skin, causing a compound fracture.
Open Fracture
Also called a compound fracture, this is when a bone is broken in such a way that it pierces the skin. This type of break requires immediate medical attention, because a bone should not be exposed to the air and its contaminants. Surgery will be required to repair this type of fracture.
Compression Fracture
When a bone is compressed and crushed, it is a compression fracture. This usually requires multiple surgeries and physical therapy, and it occasionally requires amputation if the bone cannot be fixed and may otherwise cause infection.
Orthopedic Surgeons in Greater Detroit
If you or someone you know may have broken a bone, come right to Movement Orthopedics. If you are in or near Clinton Township, Michigan, we are here to diagnose and treat all of your musculoskeletal issues – from broken bones to arthritis pain to a sprained ankle.
Call us today at (586) 436-3785 or request an appointment online, or walk into our orthopedic urgent care. Movement Orthopedics can help you get back on your feet in no time!
