Broken bones happen, it’s part of life. In fact, on average every person will break at least two bones during their lifetime. That’s why we offer the area’s best fracture care to patients of all ages. From the time you arrive at the hospital we will take you through the steps necessary to help you heal faster and get back to your life. Not only will we treat your breaks, but we will also teach you ways to heal better and how to avoid future injuries. Learn more below:

We treat all types of fractures at Southwest Health, throughout all stages of the healing process. Some fractures may require surgery to align the bones and to promote better long-term function, but most can be treated without surgery.

There are many different types and patterns of fractures, and each requires a different technique and procedure to repair it. Here are a few types of bone fracture categories:

• Displaced Fracture: bone breaks into two or more pieces and moves out of alignment.
• Non-Displaced Fracture: the bone breaks but does not move out of alignment.
• Closed Fracture: the skin is not broken.
• Open Fracture: the bone has broken through the skin – this is a medical emergency, and you should be seen in the emergency or urgent care department immediately.

In addition to whether the bone is displaced or non-displaced it will be given a fracture pattern name. Here are several types of fracture patterns:

• Avulsion Fracture: when a fragment of bone is separated from the main mass.
• Buckled Fracture: (or impacted fracture), ends are driven into each other; commonly seen in arm fractures in children.
• Comminuted Fracture: the bone breaks into several pieces.
• Compression or Wedge Fracture: usually involves the bones in the back (vertebrae).
• Greenstick Fracture: an incomplete fracture in which the bone is bent; occurs most often in children.
• Linear Fracture: the break is parallel to the bone’s long axis.
• Oblique Fracture: the break has a curved or sloped pattern.
• Pathologic Fracture: caused by a disease that weakens the bones.
• Spiral Fracture: one part of the bone has been twisted at the break point.
• Stress Fracture: a hairline crack.
• Transverse Fracture: the broken piece of bone is at a right angle to the bone’s axis.

How Do I know if It’s Broken?

There is certainly no substitute for a professional medical opinion. If you think you might have a broken bone please visit the emergency room, urgent care department, or make an appointment as soon as possible with the Orthopedic Institute.

Broken bones are typically indicated by:

• Swelling or bruising over a possible broken area
• Deformity of the limb (something might look dislocated)
• Pain in the injured area that gets worse when moved or pressure is applied
• Loss of function in the injured area
• Bone protruding from the skin – this is a medical emergency and you should be seen in the emergency or urgent care department immediately.