Fractures

A bone fracture refers to a full or partial break in the continuity of a bone. It can happen to any bone in your body. In most cases, a bone fracture will come about due to a high force impact or stress. It may also come from a medical condition that weakens bones, such as osteoporosis and some kinds of cancer. Such fractures are known as pathological fractures. The risk increases if you take part in high-impact activities and sports. When you break your bone, you need to visit a Katy fractures specialist to diagnose and treat it appropriately.

Types of Bone Fractures

There are quite a few types of bone fractures, including:

• Avulsion Fractures. In this type, a ligament or muscle pulls on the bone, causing a fracture.
• Comminuted Fractures. Where impact shatters the affected bone into multiple pieces
• Crush or Compression Fractures. They are common in the spongy bone of the spine. For instance, osteoporosis may cause the front portion of your vertebra to collapse.
• Fracture Dislocations. This type of fracture commonly occurs when a joint dislocates and one of the bones connected to the joint fractures.
• Greenstick Fractures. In this case, the bone partly fractures on one side but does not break entirely because the remaining part of the bone cannot bend.

You can also suffer a partial fracture of the bone known as a hairline fracture. In an impacted fracture, a piece of the fractured bone may impact an adjacent bone. If you suffer a fracture due to an underlying condition that weakens the bones, it is a pathological fracture. Other less common types of fractures include longitudinal fractures that extend along the length of the bone, oblique fractures, spiral fractures, stress fractures, and transverse fractures.

Symptoms of Fractures

The symptoms of your fracture may vary depending on the location. Your age and current medical state may also influence the symptoms you experience with your fracture. However, you will almost always experience the following symptoms:

• Swelling
• Pain
• Bruising
• Discolored skin around the location of the fracture
• Protrusion of the fracture area at an abnormal angle
• Loss of mobility in the affected area
• Bleeding in the case of open fractures
• A grating sensation in the fractured joint or bone

If you suffer a more severe fracture, you may experience dizziness, nausea, lightheadedness, or faintness.

Causes of Fractures

Healthy bones are incredibly robust and can withstand very high impacts. However, they may break or crack when the force exceeds the threshold. Overuse, physical trauma, and conditions that weaken the bones are the primary causes of bone fractures. Some factors may also increase your likelihood of developing fractures. As you grow older, your bones become weaker, increasing the probability of breaking.

In summary, fractures are full or partial breaks in the continuity of a bone. There are several types of bone fractures, and they all vary in severity. Common symptoms include swelling, pain, and bruising, but they may vary depending on the location of the fracture, your age, and your current health condition. Common causes of fractures include overuse, physical trauma, and underlying medical conditions that weaken the bones.