Types of Bone Fractures: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

What is Bone Fracture?

A fracture is a medical term for a ‘broken bone’. It is a medical condition distinguished by a partial or complete break in the continuity of the bone.

Most human bones are strong and can generally withstand strong impact or forces.

However, bones break when the pressure or force applied to them is more than what they can normally withstand or if there is something wrong with them.

Bones are the skeleton of the body that allows us to interact with our surroundings. They act as attachment points for muscles that allow running, jumping, sitting, kneeling, grasping, and lifting.

As we age the bones become breakable and the force they can handle or withstand reduces. This increases the risk of fracture, immediate medical care is needed after a bone is fractured.

As serious fractures can have severe complications if not treated right away. Complications include damage to the blood vessels and infections of the bone or surrounding tissue.

Types of Fractures:

1. Transverse fracture 

In a transverse fracture, the fracture line is almost perpendicular to the long axis of the bone.

Such a fracture is caused by bending force resulting from the direct blow by a moving object or by the bone striking a resistance object.

Transverse fracture

 

2. Oblique fracture

As the name suggests in an oblique fracture. The fracture line is oblique and makes an acute angle with the long axis of the bone.

Such a fracture is caused by bending force which in addition has a component along the long axis of the bone.

oblique fracture

 

3. Spiral fracture

In a spiral fracture, the fracture line runs spirally in more than one plane.

Such a fractured is caused by an indirect rotational or twisting force with increasing energy transfer the spiral fractures may have butterfly fragments.

Spiral fracture

 

4. Segmental fracture

In a segmental fracture there are two fractures in one bone but at different levels leading to a free segment in between.

Segmental fracture

 

5. Impacted fracture

A fracture where one fragment of bone goes into another. Bone fragments are driven into each other.

Impacted fracture

 

6. Aulsion fracture

A fracture where a fragment of bone is separated or pulled off by a ligament or tendon.

Avulsion fracture

 

7. Complete fracture

A fracture in which the bone breaks completely.

Types of complete fracture are:

1. Comminuted fracture

Bone fragments break into three or more pieces.

Comminuted fracture

 

2. Single fracture

Bone fragments break in one place into two pieces.

 

3. Non-Displaced fracture

Bone fragments break into pieces and stay in their normal alignment.

Non-Displaced fracture

 

4. Displaced fracture

Bone fragment breaks into pieces that shift off their normal alignment.

Displaced fracture

 

5. Incomplete fracture

The bone doesn’t break completely. Incomplete fractures are more common in children. Whose bones are softer and more elastic.

Incomplete fracture

 

Types of incomplete fractures are:

1. Greenstick fracture

The bone partly fractures on one side while the rest of the bone is bent.

Greenstick fracture

 

3. Hairline fracture

A partial fracture of the bone usually in a thin crack.

Hairline fracture

 

4. Torus (buckle) fracture

The bone is broken on one side and a bump or raised buckle grows on the other side.

Torus (buckle) fracture

 

Types of fracture Displacement:

The fracture displacement is described in terms of change in length, angulation, rotation, and translation.

Change in Length

Let’s see how a displaced fracture cause’s change in the limb length. Apposition is the amount of end-to-end contact of the fracture fragments.

 

Displacement fracture (Apposition)Displacement fracture (Bayonet apposition)Displacement fracture (Bayonet apposition VS Bayonet rifle) (1)

 

Bayonet apposition means overlap of the fracture fragments in the longitudinal axis here the bone ends have no contact and have slipped past each other the fracture is called “off-ended”. This results in a shortening of the limb length.

The bayonet apposition gets its name from the bayonet rifle.

Excessive traction may result in the opposite deformity leading to distraction

Displacement fracture in excessive traction

 

Angulation

Angulation is described by the reference to the apex of the fracture in the coronal plane a fracture with displacement of the distal fragments towards the midline with its apex pointing laterally is said to be in Varus.

Displacement fracture Angulation (Varus)

 

A fracture with its displacement of the distal fragment away from the midline with the apex pointing towards the midline is said to be in Valgus.

Displacement fracture Angulation (Valgus)

 

Sagittal Plane

In the sagittal plane, a fracture with its apex pointing posteriorly is said to have posterior angulation or to line extension.

Sagittal Plane

 

Finally, where the apex points anteriorly the fracture has anterior angulation or lies inflection.

Rotation

A fracture may be rotated internally or externally. This is judged by the appearance of the two bone ends and the position of the distal part of the limb clinically.

Displacement fracture Rotation

 

Translation

Translation occurs when the fracture surfaces have shifted sideways relative to each other depending on the position of the distal fragment.

A fracture may be translated medially, laterally, anteriorly, posteriorly, or even a combination of these.

 

Displacement fracture Translation

 

Relationship with External Environment:

On the basis of relationship with the external environment. Fractures can be classified as either closed or open.

Closed fracture

A closed fracture is a fracture not communicating with the external environment that is the overlying skin and soft tissues are intact.

Closed fracture

 

Open fracture

Whereas a fracture with a break in the overlying skin and the soft tissues leading to the fracture communicating with the external environment is called an open fracture.

Open fracture

With an open fracture, there is a high risk of infection.

Etiology of fracture:

1. Traumatic fracture

Traumatic fracture is a fracture of a bone following direct or indirect violence.

A normal healthy bone breaks only when it is subjected to excessive force.

Hence, these fractures are caused by the action of an abnormal excessive force on a normal healthy bone.

Examples of traumatic fractures include fractures caused by a fall, road traffic accident, fight, etc.

 

2. Pathological fracture

This type is a result of an underlying condition or disease that has already weakened the bone. Such as cancer or osteoporosis.

 

3. Stress fracture

Stress or fatigue fracture results from the cyclical application of the normal forces in excessive frequency to the normal bone of a healthy patient leading to a break in bony trabeculae.

The classic examples include second metatarsal fractures of army recruits popularly known as the March fracture.Stress fracture

The fracture of the navicular bone in athletes. Stress fractures are typically seen in military personals, athletes, or dancers. When the intensity of the exercise is significantly increased from the baseline.

Stress fracture

 

Quantum of force:

 

On the basis of the quantum of force causing the fracture. The fractures can be classified into high and low-velocity injuries.

A high-velocity injury is caused by severe trauma force as in a road traffic accident. These fractures are associated with severe soft tissue injury with extensive devascularisation of the fracture ends.

These are usually more complex fractures and difficult to treat. Such fractures are often unstable and slow to heal.

The low-velocity injuries are caused by mild trauma force as in a fall. There is little associated soft tissue injury.

 

Symptoms:

 

  • Intense pain in the sight of the injury.
  • Swelling, bruising, and redness in the injured area.
  • Deformity in the injured area.
  • Difficulty moving or supporting the weight with the affected area.

 

Causes of Fractures:

 

  • Falls, direct blows, or strikes to the body.
  • Injuries from sports osteoporosis repetitive forces caused by running, automobile accidents.
  • Risk factors may include being old, smoking, alcoholism, and use of corticosteroids being physically inactive.

Diagnosis:

 

The doctor will ask about symptoms. Examine the injury and look for other injuries that may have occurred.

The American Academy of orthopaedic surgeons provides that x-rays are the most common method of diagnosing a fracture.

They help in visualizing the bone and revealing breaks and other signs of damage as well as in determining the location and type of the fracture.

In cases where x-ray alone is insufficient CT scan or MRI may be used.

 

Treatment:

 

Treatment options depend on the type and location of the fracture.

The first goal of treatment is to try to put the broken pieces back into their proper position and stabilize them as they heal.

Pieces of broken bones should be kept immobile until they are together.

A cast may be used to stabilize the broken bone. The cast may be made of fiber or glass and it will help stabilizer the injured area and keep broken pieces compact until they heal.

Complex injuries may require surgery.

Conclusion:

 

This was all about types of fractures and their mechanisms.

So, if you have gained knowledge from this article, so please share this article and spread the knowledge with your friends and family.

Or maybe if I didn’t mention the fracture type which you wanted to read.

Either way, let me know by leaving a comment below right now.

 

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Causes of Ankle Fracture

The most common bone and joint injuries are ankle injuries. How you should be careful about your ankle injury is depending upon the degree of pain, inability to walk and if the bone is broken or not. Most of the time, the doctor also has the same concern, is there a broken bone? Because diagnosing sprain, dislocation or tendon injury is much easier than diagnosing a fracture.

Let’s see what the main causes of an ankle fracture are. But before that, we need to know the structure of the ankle joint. It is made up of 3 bones coming together.

The tibia- It is the main bone of the lower leg, makes up the inside of the ankle joint.

The fibula- It is a smaller bone that parallels the tibia in the lower leg. It makes up the outside of the ankle joint.

The talus- Both the tibia and fibula are known as the singular is malleolus. Together they form an arch that sits on top of the talus.

These 3 bones- the tibia, fibula, and talus make up the bony elements of the ankle joint. It is stabilized by several ligaments that hold these bones in place.

Ankle Fracture Causes

Stress is the most common cause of an ankle fracture. If you stress an ankle joint beyond strength, you injure the joint. If there is only wear and tear on the ligaments then you have sprained the ankle. In case of breaking bones, you have an ankle fracture. It can occur with simultaneous tears of the ligaments. These are the reasons for ankle fracture:

  • Twisting the ankle side to side
  • Rolling the ankle in or out
  • A strong force applied to the joint by coming straight down on it as in jumping from a high level
  • Flexing or extending the joint

This is the general information about the causes of Ankle Fracture. We recommend you to take your doctor’s advice for proper guidance. We hope this information adds value to your knowledge. Watch out this space for more such information. Greetings for SYS Medtech International PVT. LTD.

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Types of tibia fracture

The long bone located in the lower leg between the knee and foot is known as the shinbone or tibia. Tibia fractures are usually caused by an injury or repetitive strain on the bone and it’s very common. The severity and type of fracture may vary, depending on the cause of the broken bone. Fractures that occur at the upper part of the tibia are called proximal fractures and fractures that occur below this area known as tibia shaft fractures. Apart from this, the following are the major types of tibia fractures-

  • Spiral fracture- A spiral-shaped fracture occurs when a twisting movement causes a break.
  • Displaced fracture- When a crack in the bone moves part of the bone so that it is no longer aligned, a displaced fracture occurs. Surgery is often needed to correct this type of fracture for realigning the bones back together.
  • Stable fracture- It involves a crack in the bone that leaves most of the bone intact and in its normal position. During the healing process, the broken parts of the tibia line up and maintain their correct position. This is also known as a non-displaced fracture.
  • Stress fracture- Stress fractures commonly known as hairline fractures are overuse injuries. These fractures are small as there are just thin cracks in the bone.
  • Comminuted fracture – When the bone fractures into three or more pieces, this is called a comminuted fracture.

When bones are broken, they can either stay under the skin or break through its surface. When a broken bone breaks through the skin, it is known as open fractures. With closed fractures, the bone does not break the skin, still, there may still be internal tissue damage.

This is the general information about Tibia Fracture. We recommend you to take your doctor’s advice for proper guidance. We hope this information adds value to your knowledge. Watch out this space for more such information. Greetings for SYS Medtech International PVT. LTD.

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Femur fracture- Symptoms and causes

The bone located in the human thigh is known as the femur bone. It is the longest bone, extending from the hip to the knee. Also, it is the strongest bone in the human body. When the femur bone breaks, it takes a long time to heal. Breaking this bone can make everyday tasks much more difficult because it’s one of the main bones responsible for walking.

Symptoms of a broken femur

  • Immediate, severe pain
  • The injured leg appears to be shorter than the unbroken leg
  • Not able to put weight on the injured leg
  • The injured leg appears to be crooked

Causes of femur fracture

A femur fracture is very rare as it is a very large and strong bone. A broken femur is usually caused by a severe accident such as vehicle accidents. A break in this bone can only result from a large amount of force such as a fall from an extreme height. This fracture can take three to six months to heal.

Older adults have weaker bones. Thus they have the tendency of having a femur fracture. It may be called a hip fracture instead of a femur fracture, depending on how close the break to the hip.

A broken femur can have a major effect on your life, but not permanent. In most cases of broken femurs, patients return to a normal lifestyle. Surgeries become effective and people are typically able to completely heal from a broken femur.

This is the general information about Femur Fracture. We recommend you to take your doctor’s advice for proper guidance. We hope this information adds value to your knowledge. Watch out this space for more such information. Greetings for SYS Medtech International PVT. LTD.

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Types of Shoulder Fractures

The scapula (shoulder blade), clavicle (collarbone) and humerus (upper arm bone) are three bones involved in shoulder fractures. All three types of shoulder fractures can cause shoulder pain, swelling and tenderness. Also, it limits the shoulder’s range of motion. Let’s see these three major types of shoulder fractures and how it affects the human body.

Scapula Fracture

A flat triangular bone located in the upper back is known as the scapula. The scapula provides the primary connections between the arm and the chest. Scapula fractures are rare which approximately less than 1% of all fractures are. A scapular fracture may result from a contact sport like football and cricket or a traumatic event such as a car or bike accident.

Clavicle Fracture

The clavicle, commonly known as collarbone is a long and thin bone that begins at the base of the neck and extends out to the shoulder. This fracture can happen at any age, from new-borns to the elderly. Normally, this fracture occurs because of a fall, direct hit or a motor vehicle accident. Common symptoms are bruising, swelling, and pain over the clavicle region.

Proximal Humerus Fracture

The humerus is that long bone between the elbow and the shoulder. A fracture to the top of the humerus bone is called a proximal humerus fracture. The ball that rests in the shoulder’s socket is often referred to as the humeral head. A proximal humerus fracture is very common and it can occur at any age. It can often be treated without surgery. Whether the patient needs the surgery is depending on various factors like the amount of displacement, the involvement of the cartilage in the joint, the age and activity level of the patient.

This is the general information about Shoulder Fracture. We recommend you to take your doctor’s advice for proper guidance. We hope this information adds value to your knowledge. Watch out this space for more such information. Greetings for SYS Medtech International PVT. LTD.

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Dislocated Elbow- Symptoms and Causes

The elbow is made up of three bones- humerus, radius and ulna. The elbow dislocation happens when any of these bones become separated or knocked out of place. If a person thinks that he/she has a dislocated elbow, he/she should get immediate medical help because dislocation can be very painful, causing the elbow to become unstable and sometimes unable to move. It damages the ligaments of the elbow and can also damage the surrounding muscles, nerves and tendons.

Causes of a dislocated elbow

  • When people try to stop a fall with an outstretched hand
  • Car accidents
  • Sports injuries
  • A joint disorder such as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome makes joints unusually loose and flexible

Symptoms of a dislocated elbow

A dislocated elbow can be partial or complete. A complete elbow dislocation involves a total separation called a luxation and when the elbow joint is partially dislocated, it is called a subluxation. Doctors also classify elbow dislocations according to where it occurs and the extent of the damage. The 3 types are:

Simple: No major injury to the bone

Complex: Severe injuries to the bone and ligament

Severe: Damage to the blood vessels and nerves around the elbow

The symptoms of a dislocated elbow vary depending on the type of injury and the bones involved. These are the common symptoms-

  • Bruising
  • Deformed-looking arm (bone looks out of place)
  • Weakness in the joint
  • Loss of ability to move the elbow
  • Pain
  • Swelling

This is the general information about Elbow Fracture. We recommend you to take your doctor’s advice for proper guidance. We hope this information adds value to your knowledge. Watch out this space for more such information. Greetings for SYS Medtech International PVT. LTD.

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Symptoms of Wrist Fracture

Breaking one or more bones of the wrist can cause a wrist fracture. A broken wrist occurs when people try to catch themselves during a fall and land hard on an outstretched hand. If you participate in sports like cricket or kabaddi, you may be at higher risk of a broken wrist. Also, if you have a condition in which bones such as osteoporosis where bones become thinner and more fragile, the chances of wrist fracture are high.

For bones to heal in proper alignment, it’s important to treat a broken wrist as soon as possible.  The delay in this might affect your ability to do everyday activities, such as writing, buttoning a shirt or knotting shoelaces. Also, early treatment helps in minimizing pain and stiffness. Thus one has to know the primary symptoms of wrist fracture so that the person can rush to the doctor.

Following are the symptoms of the broken wrist

  • Swelling
  • Severe pain while gripping or squeezing or moving hand or wrist
  • Bruising
  • Tenderness
  • Obvious deformity, such as a bent wrist

When to call a doctor

Looking at these symptoms, if you think you might have a broken wrist see a doctor immediately. If you’re having numbness, swelling or trouble moving your fingers you should rush to the doctor. A delay in diagnosis and treatment can lead to poor healing, restricts the motion and decreased grip strength.

This is the general information about Wrist Fracture. We recommend you to take your doctor’s advice for proper guidance. We hope this information adds value to your knowledge. Watch out this space for more such information. Greetings for SYS Medtech International PVT. LTD.

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Why athletes should consider PRP treatment?

Many athletes face orthopaedic injuries often in their life which involve invasive procedures, complicated surgeries and lengthy hospital stays. This procedure usually needs a long period of time for recovery. Today with the help of technology and advanced medical science it is possible to undergo a variety of orthopaedic procedures using minimally invasive techniques such as PRP treatment.  So the athlete can get back to the active lifestyle more quickly than ever.

You must have read our previous blogs on PRP. If not then check them out on our website https://www.sysmedtechint.com/. In this blog, let’s see why you should opt for the PRP treatment.

To kick start your body’s healing abilities

Platelet-rich plasma or PRP is an ideal method of boosting your body’s own healing abilities. To simplify this, let’s take an example. Just think of the last time you cut your finger or scraped your leg enough to draw blood. When something like this happens, your body’s innate healing proteins are found in the platelets in your blood. This element rushes to the cut or scrapes to initiate the healing of your wound. PRP treatment boosts this ability.

A simple procedure

As you know the procedure of PRP treatment. There is no surgery and long stays in the hospital. You can go home after a few hours of this PRP treatment. You can resume your routine after a few weeks but under your doctor’s instructions.

Speedy recovery

As PRP injections send a high concentration of proteins directly to the injured area, these growth factors fasten up your body’s natural healing process.

Less risky

If you’re worried about taking medications or injecting artificial and manufactured fluids into your body then PRP is a more natural approach. It comes from your own blood, so the risk of rejection is highly unlikely. Thus there’s almost no risk of side effects. Besides minor irritation or pain at the site of the PRP injection, platelet-rich plasma therapy is one of the safest ways to heal your body after an orthopaedic injury.

This is the general information about PRP Treatment. We recommend you to take your doctor’s advice for proper guidance. We hope this information adds value to your knowledge. Watch out this space for more such information. Greetings for SYS Medtech International PVT. LTD.

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Precautions should be taken after PRP injection

Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) treatment is a budding treatment option for individuals with orthopaedic problems such as knee arthritis, tendonitis and rotator cuff tears. If you are considering this modernistic treatment, it is important to get familiar with the restrictions you may have during the rehabilitation process which includes learning about precautions you should take after PRP injections.

Precautions after PRP Injection

Each patient’s recovery timeline will be different, depending on how his/her body is responding to PRP. But there are general guidelines you can use to prepare yourself. Here are some precautions after PRP injection which you may be instructed to take. This is divided between the various phases of your rehabilitation:

Phase 1 (0-3 days post-procedure)

In this phase, the primary goals will be to protect the affected joint and manage discomfort. The joint may be immobilized using a walking boot or a sling. You may be advised to use crutches if you receive injections in your knee, foot or ankle.

Phase 2 (3-14 days post-procedure)

These days, you will begin to bear more weight as tolerated and slowly discontinue the use of assistive devices. Also, it is important to continue avoiding activities like lifting and impact exercise that may put too much stress on the tendon.

Phase 3 (14 days to 6-8 weeks post-procedure)

In this phase, the focus will be to achieve a full range of motion while increasing strength and balance. Therapeutic exercises will help you reach these goals. But we advise you to do that under instructions. You should not resume heavy exercise yet and you should avoid activities that cause pain.

Phase 4 (around 6-8 weeks post-procedure)

Up to this phase, patients usually return to their normal activities at full intensity. Soreness may occur after participating in athletics, but it should go away within 24 hours.

This is the general information about PRP Treatment. We recommend you to take your doctor’s advice for proper guidance. We hope this information adds value to your knowledge. Watch out this space for more such information. Greetings for SYS Medtech International PVT. LTD.

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How Does PRP Work?

As we discussed early in the last blog, platelet-rich-plasma (PRP) therapy is the new treatment for which orthopaedic patients can have access to a speedy recovery. Athletes are the very first patients who received PRP therapy for their sports injuries. This therapy is used for their speedy healing process and early return to their sport. The benefits and effectiveness of PRP therapy are still being studied, but many orthopaedic practices already offer this option to their patients. Now, let’s talk about how PRP works and whether it might be right for you.

How PRP Treatment heals orthopaedic injuries?

The science behind PRP therapy is very basic and simple. When you incur an injury, your body sends platelets that are in your blood to the site of injury to facilitate the healing process. Scientists are trying to harness your body’s natural healing ability and boost it. Platelets are the clotting component found in your blood. However, platelets are not only for clotting but also contain growth factors that are essential for the healing of injuries and the regrowth of the damaged area.

The procedure

If you decide to take PRP treatment, your doctor will harvest some of the platelets in your blood by taking a sample of your blood. Then the physician will separate them from the other blood cells by concentrating them via a centrifuge. Afterward, the highly concentrated platelets are carefully injected into the site of injury or pain.

Conditions can be treated by PRP Treatment

Following conditions can be treated by PRP therapy include:

  • Jumper’s knee
  • Muscle injuries
  • Tendon tears
  • Ligament injuries
  • Achilles tendonitis
  • Muscle strains
  • Bursitis

It is also recommended to patients who undergo surgery to address orthopaedic conditions as PRP therapy can help to speed up the healing process. It can help make the patient’s recovery time faster and more efficient.

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