About this topic
A fracture is a break in a bone. Bones help us move. They also support us and protect our internal organs. Breaks are often caused by a fall or hard blow. They may be caused by a car crash or other trauma. Some diseases can cause bones to break. Cancer and osteoporosis are two diseases that often cause problems with bones. ‚
The treatment will depend on how bad the break is. You may need a cast or splint. Other breaks need surgery to fix them. Sometimes, pins, plates, and screws are used to hold the bones in place. ‚
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What care is needed at home?
- Ask your doctor what you need to do when you go home. Make sure you ask questions if you do not understand what the doctor says. This way you will know what you need to do.
- Rest your injured area. Your doctor may have you wear a splint, brace, or cast to limit your movement.
- Place an ice pack or a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a towel over the painful part. Never put ice right on the skin. Do not leave the ice on more than 10 to 15 minutes at a time.
- Prop your injured area on pillows to help with swelling. Try to keep it raised above your heart.
Ask your doctor about: ‚
- How to take care of your cast, brace, or splint
- How to care for any wounds you may have
- When it is safe to take a bath or shower
- When you may go back to your normal activities like work or driving
What follow-up care is needed?
Your doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your progress. Be sure to keep these visits. You may need more x-rays. The doctor may need to remove your cast, splint, brace, or stitches. Your doctor may order physical therapy (PT) or an exercise program for you. ‚
What drugs may be needed?
The doctor may order drugs to: ‚
- Help with pain and swelling
- Fight an infection
Will physical activity be limited?
A fracture takes about 6 to 10 weeks to heal. You should not do physical activity that makes your health problem worse. If you run, work out, or play sports, you may not be able to do those things until your health problem gets better. Talk to your doctor about the right amount of activity for you. ‚
What problems could happen?
- Infection
- Damage to nerves and blood vessels
- Bleeding
- Blood clots
- Muscle spasms
- Muscle weakness from not being able to move
- Bone heals in the wrong position
What can be done to prevent this health problem?
- Take extra care to avoid falling. Falls are a common cause of fractures. Prevent falls by not standing on chairs or other unstable things. Remove throw rugs and electric cords from floor areas.
- Wear the right equipment when playing sports. This includes protective equipment and padding.
- Stay active and work out to keep your muscles strong and flexible.
- Warm up slowly and stretch before you work out. Use good ways to train, such as slowly adding to how far you run. Do not work out if you are overly tired. Take extra care if working out in cold weather.
- Keep a healthy weight. Eat a balanced diet to keep your bones healthy. Eat a diet rich in calcium and vitamin D.
- If you have osteoporosis, talk to your doctor about the drugs you may need to take.
When do I need to call the doctor?
- Sudden shortness of breath or a sudden onset of chest pain could be a sign that a blood clot traveled to your lungs. Go to the ER right away
- Signs of bad blood flow. These include blue or purple skin color or very bad swelling.
- Signs of nerve damage. These include numbness, tingling, or complete loss of feeling where the fracture is.
- Signs of infection. These include fever of 100.4 ‚ °F (38 ‚ °C) or higher, chills, a wound that will not heal, worsening drainage, itching, or pain.
- Signs of a blood clot such as new pain, swelling, or redness in the back of your lower legs.
Teach Back: Helping You Understand
The Teach Back Method helps you understand the information we are giving you. The idea is simple. After talking with the staff, tell them in your own words what you were just told. This helps to make sure the staff has covered each thing clearly. It also helps to explain things that may have been a bit confusing. Before going home, make sure you are able to do these: ‚
- I can tell you about my fracture.
- I can tell you how to care for my injured area.
- I can tell you what I will do if I have signs of bad blood flow or nerve damage.
Where can I learn more?
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons ‚
http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00139 ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
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Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚