Broken Bone (Bone Fracture): Fractures occur when bone cannot withstand the outside forces applied to the bone. Fractures can be open or closed. Types of fractures include:
- greenstick,
- spiral,
- comminuted,
- transverse,
- compound, or
- vertebral compression.
- stress fracture,
- compression fracture,
- rib fracture, and
- skull fracture.
Treatment depends upon the type of fracture.
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Ankle Fracture
An broken ankle (ankle fracture) can be caused by rolling the ankle in or out, twisting the ankle, extreme flexing of the joint, or trauma. Symptoms of a broken ankle include pain, swelling, inability to move the toes or foot, and exposed bone. Treatment of broken ankle depends on the type of fracture. -
Broken Arm
One or more bones are cracked in a broken arm, which consists of three major bones. There are several different types of possible fractures and dislocations. Treatment includes casting, splinting and even surgery if the fracture is serious enough. -
Broken Collarbone
A broken collarbone or clavicle is the most common injury among children. Symptoms of a broken collarbone include pain in the area of the fracture, slumped shoulder, and bruising over the fracture area. Treatment and recovery time for a broken collarbone is generally 2 to 4 weeks for children and 4 to 8 weeks for adults. -
Broken Elbow
A broken elbow injury can be caused by a variety of factors. Falls, trauma, direct blow to the elbow, or direct injury to the elbow, wrist, hand, or shoulder. Symptoms of a broken elbow are swelling, deformity, bruising, discoloration, difficulty moving the elbow, numbness, cuts, wounds, and severe pain. Treatment for a broken elbow depends on the type of fracture. -
Broken Finger
A broken finger can cause symptoms and signs of immediate pain, swelling, and in some cases deformity. A broken finger usually is caused by falls, workplace accidents, trauma such as playing sports, or punching an object. Symptoms and signs of a broken finger are immediate pain, deformation, bruising, and swelling. Home treatment for a broke finger include buddy taping and ice. Sometimes a broken finger needs medical treatment such as moving the deformity back into place or surgery. It takes about six six weeks for a broken finger to heal. Healing may take longer if complications occur such as infection. -
Broken Foot
Broken bones (also called fractures) in the foot are very common. A fracture of the foot is caused by trauma to the bones of the foot from accidents or repeated stress on the foot bones. The most common symptom of a broken foot is pain. Other symptoms include bruising or redness, deformity of the toes, and the inability to walk on the affected foot. -
Broken Hand
Broken hand (fractures) are caused by trauma to the hand, crush injuries, falls, sports injuries, improper use of tools, and workplace injuries. Broken hand is usually diagnosed with an X-ray. Treatment of a broken hand depends on the bone or bones that were fractured. -
Broken Jaw
Broken jaw or mandibular fracture is a common facial fracture. A broken nose is the most common cause of broken bones. The most common symptom of a broken jaw is pain. First aid and treatment for a broken jaw is to put ice on the injury, take pain medications, eat a soft diet, take antibiotics, and possibly surgery. -
Broken Leg
The leg has four bones that may fracture (break) from an injury, traumatic injury, or diseases of the bone such as tumors, cysts, and arthritis. Symptoms of a broken leg include pain and possibly deformity in the leg at the fracture site. Bones of the leg that fracture require medical care. -
Broken Nose
A broken nose (nasal fracture) is any crack or fracture in the bony portion of the nose. Causes of a broken nose include fights, sports injuries, motor vehicle accidents, and falls. Symptoms of a broken nose include tenderness when touching the nose, bruised nose, black eye, nosebleed, and difficulty breathing through the nostrils. Treatment for a broken nose depends on the severity of the fracture. -
Broken or Knocked-out Teeth
Broken teeth are caused by trauma to the face. Jaw pain, toothache, pain with chewing and temperature changes may indicate a broken or cracked tooth. Sometimes teeth may be reimplanted if they come out whole, but fractures may require crowns or removal of the tooth. -
Broken Shoulder Blade
A broken shoulder blade (fractured scapula) is often a serious injury that requires medical treatment. Causes of a broken shoulder blade include sports injuries or trauma (car accidents). Treatment for a broken shoulder blade depends on the portion of the bone that is fractured and any other injuries sustained with the broken shoulder blade. -
Broken Toe
Broken toes are a common injury. Signs and symptoms of a broken toe may include pain, swelling, stiffness, bruising, deformity, and subungual hematoma. Treatment depends upon the severity of the fracture. There are home remedies to help ease pain and swelling of a broken toe. Medical treatment for a broken toe includes pain medication, buddy taping, casting, or booting. -
Bruises
A bruise is a common skin injury that results in a discoloration of the skin. Symptoms and signs include pain and discolored skin. Applying a cold compress may speed healing and reduce swelling. Acetaminophen and ibuprofen may be taken for pain. -
Cast Care
A cast is a rigid protective material of plaster or fiberglass. Cast care includes keeping the cast clean and dry so that it does not smell, not putting anything down inside the cast, or break or trim part of the cast. If anything occurs to the cast (becomes wet and does not dry, becomes very tight and painful, or has a foul smell) see a healthcare professional. -
Fall Prevention and Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis (or porous bone) is a disease in which bones become less dense, resulting in weak bones that are more likely to break. Without prevention or treatment, osteoporosis can progress until a bone breaks. -
Head Injury
Head injury is a general term used to describe any trauma to the head, and most specifically to the brain itself. Several types of head injuries may occur such as skull fractures, intracranial hemorrhage (bleeding) such as subdural or epidural hematoma. Treatment of a head or brain injury depends on the cause and severity of the injury. Skull fracture: A skull fracture is a break in ... -
Hematoma
A hematoma is a collection of blood outside a blood vessel usually caused by injury to the blood vessel wall. Causes of hematoma include: trauma, head injury, bumps, infections, and diseases. Symptoms may be pain, redness, and swelling. Treatment of hematoma depends on the cause. -
Hip Pain
There are many causes of hip pain, such as arthritis, trauma, strains, sprains, and other conditions that cause referred hip pain. Hip pain can be sharp, sudden, gradual, or may come and go. Diagnosis and treatment of hip pain will depend upon the cause. -
Inability to Urinate
The inability to urinate (urinary retention) may be caused by an enlarged prostate, a urinary tract infection, or ruptured disc. Symptoms include abdominal pain and fever. Acute urinary retention requires a trip to the emergency department. -
Back Pain Health
Back pain may be caused by sciatica, a herniated disc, spinal stenosis, fibromyalgia, injury and pregnancy. The pain usually radiates down the legs, pain that gets worse with activity or at night, or numbness or weakness in the leg. Treatment may involve sleeping with a pillow between the knees or taking ibuprofen or acetaminophen. -
Neuropathy
Neuropathy is a term that refers to malfunctions or diseases of the nerves. Types of neuropathy include diabetic neuropathy, autonomic neuropathy, ulnar neuropathy, optic neuropathy, peripheral neuropathy, alcoholic neuropathy, proximal neuropathy, cranial neuropathy, auditory neuropathy, and focal neuropathy. Causes of neuropathy can be disease, injury, infections, or vitamin deficiencies. Symptoms of neuropathy depend on the nerves involved. Treatment is generally medication and lifestyle changes to prevent further nerve damage. -
Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis, a disease that causes bones to lose calcium and mass making them fragile, affects mostly post-menopausal women. Medications are available to slow or help prevent this process, including estrogen replacement therapy. It is possible to slow or even reverse osteoporosis, but often it becomes disabling. -
Pain Medications
The effects of pain medication are different for each person. Pain also varies in tolerance as well from person to person. There are several different pain medications such as NSAIDS, acetaminophen, and narcotics. The most commonly prescribed narcotics are morphine (MS Contin, Avinza, Kadain, Oramorph), oxycodone (OxyContin, Roxicodone, M-oxy, ETH-Oxydose, Oxyfast, OxylR), fentanyl (Duragesic, Fentanyl Patch), oxymorphone (Opana), and methadone (Methadose) Narcotic pain medications can lead to physical addiction. Symptoms of physical addiction to narcotics include flu-like symptoms, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, bone aches, feeling like you are "crawling out of your skin," goose bumps, chills, tremor, and difficulty sleeping. These symptoms are all medical concerns and should be treated medically. -
Shin Splints
Shin splints is pain along the shin bone that may be caused by muscle strain, muscle tightness, overuse, poor biomechanical alignment, or anterior compartment syndromes. Additional symptoms include a crunchy feeling caused by inflammation and a lump or gap felt at the site of pain. Treatment may involve: rest, ice, compression, elevation, and antiinflammatory medications. -
Wilderness: Splinting
A suspected broken bone or dislocation should be immobilized, splinted, or both. Splinting helps to prevent further injury and can provide pain relief.
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Broken Bone (Bone Fracture) Topic Guide - Visuals
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Broken Bone (Bone Fracture) Topic Guide - Medications and Vitamins
Medications:
Calcium CitrateCalcium is a mineral that is found naturally in foods. Calcium is necessary for many normal functions of the body, especially bone formation and maintenance....learn more »
IbuprofenIbuprofen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). Ibuprofen works by reducing hormones that cause inflammation and pain in the body...learn more »
Broken Bone (Bone Fracture) Topic Guide – Related Topics
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