About this topic
Bones help us move. They also support us and protect our internal organs. A fracture is a break in a bone. 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. ‚
Surgery may be needed to put bones back in the right place. The doctor may need to use metal plates, rods, pins, nails, or screws to hold the bone in place while it heals. This is called open reduction internal fixation surgery. ‚
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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.
- Prop your injured area on pillows to help with swelling. Try to keep it raised above your heart.
- 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.
- Your injured part may be wrapped in an elastic bandage to help with swelling. Wrap it tightly enough for support, but not too tight.
- Ask your doctor about:
- How to take care of your wound. When you should change your bandages.
- How to take care of your cast, brace, or splint.
- If you need to avoid putting weight on the fractured area. Your doctor may give you walking aids like a cane or crutches if the affected part is your legs.
- When you may take a bath or shower
- If you need to be careful with lifting things over 10 pounds
- When you may go back to your normal activities like work and driving
- Be sure to wash your hands before and after touching your wound or dressing.
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.
- Your doctor may remove your cast, brace, or splint a few days after the procedure. An x-ray may be taken to make sure that your bone is fully healed. Your doctor may give you a new cast, brace, or splint that stays on until the bone heals.
- If you have stitches or staples, you will need to have them taken out. Your doctor will often want to do this in 1 to 2 weeks.
- You may also need to see a physical therapist (PT). The PT will teach you exercises to help you get back your strength and motion.
What lifestyle changes are needed?
- Stay active and exercise to build and keep strong muscles and bones. Do weight-bearing and strengthening exercises after your bones heal.
- Keep a healthy weight. Eat a balanced diet to keep your bones healthy. Eat a diet rich in calcium and vitamin D.
What drugs may be needed?
The doctor may order drugs to: ‚
- Help with pain and swelling
- Prevent infection
- Prevent blood clots
Will physical activity be limited?
- You may have to limit your activity. Talk to your doctor about the right amount of activity for you.
- You may not be able to put full weight or any weight at all on your injured body part for up to 6 to 8 weeks. Do not return to sports until your fracture is fully healed.
What problems could happen?
- Infection
- Bleeding
- Nerve damage
- Blood clots
- Swelling, this may cause your cast to become too tight
- Bone does not heal the right way
- Plates and screws cause pain or become loose
- More surgery is needed
When do I need to call the doctor?
- Signs of infection. These include a fever of 100.4 ‚ °F (38 ‚ °C) or higher, chills, wound that will not heal.
- Signs of wound infection. These include swelling, redness, warmth around the wound; too much pain when touched; yellowish, greenish, or bloody discharge; foul smell coming from the cut site; cut site opens up.
- Chest pain or short of breath
- Toes or fingers look blue or pale, are cold, or become swollen
- Cast is cutting into arm or leg or the cast gets cracks or soft spots
- Loss of feeling in the arm or leg
- You have any injury or fall on the broken arm or leg
- Pain is not better after taking the pain drugs
- Pain suddenly gets worse
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 procedure.
- I can tell you how to care for my cut site.
- I can tell you what may help ease my pain.
- I can tell you what I will do if I have chest pain; shortness of breath; my toes or fingers look blue, pale, or are cold or swollen.
Where can I learn more?
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons ‚
http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00196 ‚
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. ‚