What are the different types of fractures?
Not all fractures are equal. There are a variety of fracture types, including:
Hairline fractures
Hairline fractures, or stress fractures, are tiny cracks on the surface of the bone. You can get a stress fracture on any bone, but they’re most common in the lower leg or foot.
Typically, you develop hairline fractures over time from overuse. Athletes who participate in sports that require lots of running or jumping are particularly at risk for hairline fractures.
Hairline fractures can heal on their own, but only if you rest your affected limb. Even with rest, hairline fractures can take several weeks to heal.
Complex fractures
Complex fractures are any complicated fracture that features things like shattered bone, bone breaking through the skin, damaged soft tissue, dislocated joints, and severe cartilage damage.
Open fractures
Open fractures are complex fractures that feature broken skin. This can happen when the bone breaks through the skin or from the same trauma that breaks the bone. If you have an open fracture, you may see the bone through the skin.
Stable fractures
A stable fracture is a fracture that features broken bones that are barely out of place.
Comminuted fractures
Comminuted fractures feature bone that shatters into at least three pieces.
What are the symptoms of a bone fracture?
Depending on the severity of a fracture, you may experience several different symptoms. These include:
- Inability to put weight on the affected body part
- Pain that gets worse when you move or apply pressure
- Bruising or swelling over a bone
- A deformed limb
- Numbness in the affected area
- Loss of function where you’re injured
If you have an open fracture, bone protruding from the skin is a clear sign of a fracture.
How do you heal a fracture?
Dr. Johnson offers a variety of fracture treatments, depending on the location of your fracture, its severity, and your health history. Some of these treatments include:
- Cast immobilization
- Functional cast or brace placement
- Traction
- External fixation
- Internal fixation
Regardless of the exact method he chooses, Dr. Johnson takes a direct approach to managing difficult fracture problems.
If you need treatment for a fracture, you’ll find no one more skilled or experienced than Dr. Johnson. To schedule an appointment, call or use the online booking tool today.
