Breaking a bone is not a pleasant experience, and it can restrict you from everyday activities for several weeks or months. It takes a lot more time for the bone to heal and until it has healed, you may find your lifestyle shifted to accommodate the healing process.
What Happens When A Bone Breaks?
Our bones are made up of collagen and calcium phosphate. These materials are packed together to form a bone and give it strength. Our bones are designed to take on some weight without issue. However, when too much force is put on a bone than it can take on, it can break.
Bones can have different densities, depending on the person’s health and age. As we age, our bones become less dense, which means there is less collagen and calcium phosphate within the bone. The less-dense a bone is, the weaker it is. Because of this, less dense bones are more prone to fractures as less force is necessary to push them to the breaking point.
Types of Fractures
Depending on the type and strength of force applied, a fracture can be minor or major. Treatment for a broken bone depends entirely on the type and severity of the fracture. Here are different types of fractures you can get:
- Open – An open fracture is also called a compound fracture and refers to a broken bone that ruptures through the skin. This is considered a serious fracture and requires surgery to fix.
- Closed – A closed fracture is also called a simple fracture and refers to a broken bone that does not break through the skin.
- Partial – A partial fracture refers to a bone that breaks partially but not completely. The fault line (the exact point where the bone breaks into pieces) does not completely separate the bone into two pieces and stops somewhere in the middle.
- Complete – A complete fracture refers to a bone that breaks into two or more pieces. The bone’s pieces are not connected at any point as there is a complete separation between them.
- Non-displaced – A non-displaced fracture refers to when the broken pieces of a fractured bone are lined up.
- Displaced – A displaced fracture refers to when the broken pieces of a fractured bone are not lined up as they should be. They will need to be placed back in order as quickly as possible so they can heal in the correct position.
What To Do After A Fracture?
When a bone breaks, you will likely notice pain and weakness in that part of the body. Depending on how serious the fracture is, you may immediately lose the ability to put weight on it. When a bone breaks, it is no longer stable. This makes it weak, and if pressure is put on it, the fracture could get more serious or the pieces of the bone could become displaced.
This is why as soon as you hurt yourself in an accident or fall, it’s crucial to see a physician to check for broken bones. The quicker a broken bone is treated, the easier and faster the recovery process will be.
Orthopedic Care in Greater Detroit
Bone healing is a complex process that kicks in seconds after the bone breaks. If you think you may have had a fracture, seek medical attention immediately.
If you live near Clinton Township, Michigan, visit the orthopedic professionals at Movement Orthopedics. We specialize in treating fractures and other types of bone trauma. Make an appointment by calling us at (586) 436-3785 or use our online form to request an appointment.
