%> Granville Family Pharmacy
Your Local Pharmacist is

Morris Morcos

1 60 South St
Granville NSW 2142
ph: (02) 9637 5765
fax: (02) 9682 6368

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:: In Brief

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:: Broken Bones

Injuries & Wounds - Broken Bones
  Injuries & Wounds
  Broken Bones

Broken Bones are a common injury.  Bones will bend under stress, but if the stress on the bone is greater than the bone itself it will break.  A broken bone is called a fracture.

A suspected fracture should be looked at by a trained professional.  The severity of a fracture depends upon its location and the damage done to the bone and tissue near it. Serious fractures can have dangerous complications if not treated promptly; possible complications include damage to blood vessels or nerves and infection of the bone (osteomyelitis) or surrounding tissue. Recuperation time varies depending on the age and health of the patient and the type of fracture. A minor fracture in a child may heal within a few weeks; a serious fracture in an older person may take months to heal.
 

Type of Fractures:

  • A complete fracture is when the bone has broken into two pieces
  • A greenstick fracture is when the bone cracks on one side only, not all the way through
  • A single fracture is when the bone is broken in one place
  • A comminuted (say: kah-muh-noot-ed) fracture is when the bone is broken into more than two pieces or crushed
  • A bowing fracture, which only happens in kids, is when the bone bends but doesn't break
  • An open fracture is when the bone is sticking through the skin
  • Transverse fracture: a fracture at a right angle to the bone's axis
  • Oblique fracture: a fracture in which the break slopes
  • An impacted fracture is one whose ends are driven into each other. This is commonly seen in arm fractures in children and is sometimes known as a buckle fracture
  • Other types of fracture are pathologic fracture, caused by a disease that weakens the bones, and stress fracture, a hairline crack


 

Treatment:

The list of treatments for fractures includes the following list. Always seek professional medical advice about any treatment or change in treatment plans:

  • Emergency treatment - fractures usually need medical treatment to determine the type of fracture and where it is.  An X-rays give the doctor a map of the fracture so that he or she can set the bones back in their normal position
  • Surgery - sometimes surgery is required to set the bones
  • Setting the bone in its proper place (called reduction)
  • Immobilising by applying a plaster cast or splint (casts are made of bandages soaked in plaster, which harden to a tough shell) for 1 to 2 months 
  • Metal supports - the use of various measures to keep the bone in place such as screws, rods, plates, wires, or nails
  • Traction - to help immmobilise the break
  • Rehabilitation / Physiotherapy - begins as soon as possible to promote blood flow,healing, maintenance of muscle tone, and helps prevent blood clots and stiffness 

Further Information:

 

Ask Your Pharmacist about:

  •  treatment for broken bones

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