A bone fracture is a medical condition where the continuity of the bone is broken – either partially or completely.
Most fractures are caused by stress or the impact of a large force. However, the weakening of bones can also occur due to diseases such as osteogenesis, imperfect osteoporosis, and some cancers. A pathological fracture is a term that refers to fractures caused by underlying medical conditions.
If you suspect that you have broken a bone, you should consult an orthopaedic doctor in Singapore as soon as possible.
Here are some important facts about fractures:
It is important to understand that any bone in your body can break. Generally, people refer to a fracture as a break. However, this term is rarely used in the medical community. The term fracture can also refer to cracked bones.
A fracture can occur in many ways. For example, a bone can break but not cause damage to the surrounding tissue or tear through the skin. This is referred to as a closed fracture.
Fractures that damage the surrounding skin are known as compound fractures or open fractures. In general, they are considered to be more serious than simple fractures, as they are exposed to infections.
Fortunately, the human body is sturdy and built in such a way that it can withstand external forces and powerful impacts. However, if the force proves to be too strong or if there is an underlying disease with the bone, the bone can fracture.
As you age, less force is required to cause a fracture. In the case of children, the opposite happens since their bones tend to be more elastic. When their bones break, it usually happens at the end of their bones (areas of growing bone).
The most common types of fractures are:
The symptoms of broken bones can vary greatly depending on the severity and region affected, according to Dr Candice Ong, an orthopaedic surgeon in Singapore
Symptoms and signs of these fractures depend on several different factors, including the general health and age of the patient as well as how severe the injury is.
That being said, most fractures will cause the following:
Symptoms of bone fractures involving larger bones such as femur or pelvis include:
If you suspect that someone has broken a bone, you should not move this person until they can be evaluated by a healthcare professional in Singapore. If possible, consider applying a splint.
A patient should only be moved if he is in a dangerous situation such as on the middle of a busy road.
Automobile accidents and bad falls are two of the most common causes of fractures. Healthy bones are often very strong and hard and can therefore easily withstand strong shocks. As people get older, there is a higher risk of fractures as they have a tendency to fall more often and their bones are weaker.
Despite the fact that children’s bones are more resilient, they are more physically active than adults and hence, more prone to accidents and fractures.
Bones get weaker in people with underlying health problems and, as a consequence, they have a higher risk of fractures in Singapore.
Professional sportsmen commonly suffer from stress fractures caused by repetitive stress and strain on their bodies.
In the vast majority of cases, fractures are treated by supporting the bone so that it can heal naturally.
Doctors will do tests to identify the symptoms and signs of a fracture before making a diagnosis. This may start with an interview with friends and relatives to try to identify the circumstances that caused the injury. An X-ray and, sometimes, a CT scan or MRI may be necessary.
As always, in most cases, the treatment of a fracture by a knee specialist in Singapore is focused on ensuring that the patient has the best possible function after the healing process.
Whenever possible, the bone is immobilized to ensure optimal healing conditions. In order for healing to occur correctly, the ends of the broken bone must be aligned. This is referred to as reducing the fracture. As this process can be painful, they usually put the patient to sleep under general anesthesia.