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Fractures
Summary
A fracture is a break, usually in a bone. If the broken bone punctures the skin, it is called an open or compound fracture. Fractures commonly happen because of car accidents, falls, or sports injuries. Other causes are low bone density and osteoporosis, which cause weakening of the bones. Overuse can cause stress fractures, which are very small cracks in the bone.
Symptoms of a fracture are:
- Intense pain
- Deformity – the limb looks out of place
- Swelling, bruising, or tenderness around the injury
- Numbness and tingling
- Problems moving a limb
You need to get medical care right away for any fracture. An x-ray can tell if your bone is broken. You may need to wear a cast or splint. Sometimes you need surgery to put in plates, pins or screws to keep the bone in place.
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
Specifics
- Avulsion Fracture: How Is It Treated? Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
- Stress Fractures Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
Images
- Bone fracture repair – series — Indications Medical Encyclopedia
- Creating a sling – series — Procedure, part 1 Medical Encyclopedia
Prevention and Risk Factors
- Bone Mineral Density Tests: What the Numbers Mean National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
- Preventing Another Broken Bone National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
Encyclopedia
- Bone scan Medical Encyclopedia
- Bone x-ray Medical Encyclopedia
- Hardware removal – extremity Medical Encyclopedia
- How to make a sling Medical Encyclopedia
- Joint x-ray Medical Encyclopedia
- Pin care Medical Encyclopedia
- X-ray – skeleton Medical Encyclopedia
Diagnosis and Tests
- Bone Scan Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
- Bone X-Ray (Radiography) Radiological Society of North America
Patient Handouts
- Broken bone Medical Encyclopedia
- Closed reduction of a fractured bone Medical Encyclopedia
- Closed reduction of a fractured bone – aftercare Medical Encyclopedia
Children
- Broken Bones (For Kids) Nemours Foundation
- Broken Bones (For Parents) Nemours Foundation
- Cast Care: Do’s and Don’ts Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
- Casts (For Parents) Nemours Foundation
- Greenstick Fractures Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
- Growth Plate Injuries National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
Clinical Trials
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Fractures, Bone National Institutes of Health
Older Adults
- Falls and Fractures in Older Adults: Causes and Prevention National Institute on Aging
Treatments and Therapies
- Fractures (Broken Bones): First Aid Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
Living With
- Mobility Aids: MedlinePlus Health Topic National Library of Medicine
- Recovering from Falls Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation
Find an Expert
- National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
Journal Articles
Teenagers
- What to Expect When Your Cast Comes Off Nemours Foundation