// Knee
Fractures
A fractured bone is a broken bone. It might be partially broken, like a crack in the bone. Or, it might be completely broken. There are lots of ways to fracture a bone: cross-wise, lengthwise, in the middle. All breaks are fractures. All fractures are breaks.
What About Bones?
Our skeleton is made of bones. This is the frame for our body. Bones support all of our body weight. Bones protect the softer parts of the body. Bones are made of living tissue. They grow more rapidly when we are young. They begin repairing themselves the moment they are broken.
The center of a bone is called marrow. It is softer than the outer part. Bone marrow has cells that become red and white blood cells. Red blood cells carry oxygen. White blood cells help fight disease.
Bones are rigid, but they can bend a little against certain amounts of force. When the force is gone, the bones return to their original shape.
What Causes A Fracture?
Classes And Types Of Fractures
The severity of a fracture depends on the force that caused it. If the force pushed the bone just beyond the breaking point, the bone may just crack, and not break all the way through. If the force is extreme, as in a car accident, the bones may actually shatter.
Knowing If It's Broken
If you have broken a bone, you probably know it! You may hear a cracking sound. The area around the fracture will be swollen and sore. The limb will be deformed. The bone may have popped through the skin. In many cases, fractures hurt so much that most people call the doctor right away. They have to favor the broken bone because it hurts. X-rays help the doctor see broken bones right away. Other times, it isn’t so clear that a bone has been broken. Stress fractures are harder to see. They do not show up on an X-ray. But, the pain, swelling, and tenderness will be there.
Treating Fractures
As soon as a fracture occurs, the body acts to protect the injured area. It surrounds the area with a protective blood clot and a fibrous tissue called callus. Right away, new threads of bone cells start to grow on both sides of the break. The threads grow toward each other. The fracture closes and the callus is absorbed. This is why it is very important to have the bone set by the doctor as soon as possible.
Holding the fracture in the correct position while the bone heals is very important. This is why if you go to the emergency department, clinic, or doctor’s office; the physician usually applies a splint to prevent further damage, to lessen the pain, and to help stop any bleeding. You will be asked to recline and to elevate the injured part. This helps reduce bleeding and swelling.
All forms of treatment of broken bones are designed to do two things: put the broken pieces back into normal position, and prevent these pieces from moving out of place while they heal. To do this, doctors will use
Recovery
The doctor will pick the right treatment method for your fracture. Fractures take several weeks to several months to heal. A lot has to do with the extent of the injury and how well the patient follows the doctor’s advice. Keep in mind that the bones of an older person take longer to heal than those of a younger person. At all ages, some bones heal faster than others. An arm may heal in a month. A leg may take up to six months. Once the bone finally mends, it will be stronger along the fracture line than before the injury.
The patient’s cooperation plays a key role with successful treatment of a fracture. A cast or external fixation device can be inconvenient and cumbersome. But remember, without one, the broken bone can’t heal properly.
Healing
All forms of treatment of broken bones are designed to do two things: put the broken pieces back into normal position, and prevent these pieces from moving out of place while they heal. To do this, doctors will use
