Treating A Broken Bone

Your feet and ankles have an extremely important job. They keep you upright and balanced all day long. So a broken bone in this area can be very problematic if left untreated. Being unstable on your feet or developing a tendency to favor one leg can lead to more serious problems down the road. That’s why early diagnosis and treatment are critical to healing a broken bone. A bone break can occur in a few different ways. You can experience a partial fracture or a complete fracture in which the bone completely separates. From there, the position of the fracture determines what kind of treatment you will need.

Stable fracture– the bone remains aligned and healing can begin without the course of surgery. Can be broken horizontally (Transverse), diagonally (Oblique), or shattered in many places (Comminuted)

Compound fracture– or “open” fractures, the bone has become displaced, meaning it is no longer in its proper place. Bones may or may not pierce the skin

What are the symptoms of broken bones?

Broken bones cause intense pain in the area surrounding the break. Some symptoms include:

• Difficulty moving and stiffness
• Pain when applying pressure
• Swelling and bruising
• Deformity or bone piercing skin

What are the causes of broken bones?

If you are healthy, your bones should be rigid structural supports for your body, but even healthy bones have their limits. If you are suffering from osteoporosis, your bones have begun to degrade and lose their structural integrity, meaning they are more susceptible to a break or fracture.

Other causes of broken bones can include:

• Overuse– too much weight-bearing can lead to stress fractures. Distance runners are particularly prone to stress fractures due to their intense daily running
• Trauma– direct, blunt force to the bone
• Falling

What are the treatment options for broken bones?

Treatment options vary from patient to patient depending on the type and severity of the fracture they have obtained.

• Stable fractures- requires cast immobilization and non-weight bearing for anywhere from 4-10 weeks.
• Compound fractures- Surgical procedures may be needed to reposition the bone. Once in place, cast immobilization can begin to start the healing process.

Physical activity and proper diets rich in Calcium and Vitamin D can help with bone strength to prevent any future bone fractures.

Treating Broken Bones In Algonquin, IL

If you think you might be suffering from the symptoms of a broken bone, it’s important that you have it looked at immediately. If not, the bone could begin to heal incorrectly and lead to easier breaks in the future or it will mean that it will have to be rebroken by a doctor. Please reach out to us so we can help explore potential treatment options for you.