Fracture Management

What is a Fracture? 

A fracture is a break, usually in a bone. If the broken bone punctures the skin, it is called an open or compound fracture. Fractures commonly happen because of car accidents, falls, or sports injuries. Other causes are low bone density and osteoporosis, which cause weakening of the bones. Overuse can cause stress fractures, which are very small cracks in the bone.

Compound or Simple Fractures

If you participate in physical activities such as contact sports or riding a bicycle, then you are at a higher risk of having an injury that includes a broken bone. Falling down or receiving a strong blow to the body can fracture a bone in different ways. A simple fracture involves having a bone that is cracked or that breaks into two pieces. Alternatively, a compound fracture is more dangerous because one or both pieces of the broken bone break through the skin.

What other types of Fractures are there?

At Liberty Urgent Care we can examine you along with collecting an X-ray to determine what type of fracture is present. There are specific types of fractures, including:

  • Avulsion – breaks caused by a ligament or muscle pull
  • Hairline – partial breaks of a bone
  • Stress – fractures caused by strain or repetitive motion
  • Longitudinal – breaks that occur along the length of bones
  • Transverse – breaks that occur across the width of the bones

 

How can You Know You’ve Broken a Bone?

If you have a compound fracture, then it is obvious because you will see the bones poking through your skin, and the skin or underlying tissues will bleed. This is also a painful type of fracture, but with closed fractures, you may not understand if you have a sprain or a broken bone.

Here are some of the symptoms of a fracture:

  • Immobility of the body part
  • Bruising and swelling of the skin over the bone
  • Intense pain while trying to stand or lift an object
  • Pain in the body part

Children are less likely to break a bone because their bones are softer while senior citizens can break a bone easily due to the natural aging process.

Come into Liberty Urgent Care

For minor fractures, our physician adjusts the bones into the correct positions before providing a cast or a splint. Fractures in the hips, neck, or back are particularly dangerous, and you should call paramedics immediately for assistance to avoid additional damage to the body’s nerves or organs. For simple fractures, it is okay to go to an urgent care clinic for diagnosis and treatment.

If you have broken or fractured a bone then it is imperative that you get immediate medical care. Come into Liberty Urgent Care in Liberty Township so that we can give you the treatment you need. We offer same-day appointments.

Schedule a Fracture Management Procedure Today