Suspected Fracture Check-Ups

A bone fracture or broken bone happens when a pressure exerted against your bone is stronger than your bone can bear. The strength and structures of your bone are compromised, resulting in pain, loss of function and bleeding as well as injury to the bone and surrounding area.

Our skeleton is composed of bones. Bones are a form of connective tissue, strengthened and supported by bone cells and calcium. Bones have marrow in the middle which consists of a soft centre where blood cells are generated. The main functions of the skeleton are to support the body, allowing movement as well as protecting the internal organs.

There are many different kinds of bone fractures, and some are more severe than others, it depends on the force and the direction of the force, the particular bone involved, and the age as well as general wellbeing of the person. Common bone fractures are the ankle, hip, and wrist. Hip fractures a more common in older people.

What are the Main Causes of Bone Fractures?

Bone fractures occur due to the following reasons:

• Traumatic incidents i.e. car accidents, sporting injuries and falls.
• Conditions like osteoporosis and types of cancer which cause the bones to fracture easily. Even a minor fall and/or trauma can be serious.

Are there Complications?

Other problems caused by bone fractures can result in the following:

• Loss of Blood: Bone has a rich supply of blood. A break can make a person lose a large amount of blood.
• Injuries to the tissues and organs, as well as surrounding structures i.e. your brain can be harmed by skull fractures. Your lungs and internal chest organs can be damaged on rare occasion when/if your ribs break.
• Delayed development of the bone structure: When a child’s long bone breaks near to a joint where the growth plates are found.

We Offer Suspected Bone Fracture Check-Ups

At our clinic, we offer a fast appointment for suspected bone fractures. Occasionally it is possible to exclude any bone fractures by clinical examination. If there is a suspicion of a bone fracture, an immediate X-ray will be done.

Once a bone fracture is diagnosed, we will arrange a referral to the orthopaedic surgeon immediately. We will provide you with pain relief and supply additional support via a temporary cast to the fractured area to minimize the risk of further damage.

What, in general, are the main origins of bone fractures?

A break or crack in a bone is known as a fracture. Bone fractures happen when a huge amount of force is applied. In the majority of cases damage to the bone is under the skin, this is called a closed fracture. Sometimes bits of the bone puncture through the skin. This is referred to as an open fracture. In either case treatment, even if there is no sign of any blood, the break might have caused internal bleeding; the person should be treated for shock in hospital. In children bones are still growing and are more supple. They can split, crack or bend quite easily, similar to a twig. Bone which is weakened by ongoing disease processes i.e. osteoporosis, fractures more easily.

How Many Weeks or Months does it take for a Bone Fracture to Heal?

The time of healing will differ from patient to patient. A bone fracture could take between a couple of weeks and many months to heal depending on age and how healthy the person is.

How Are Bone Fractures treated?

Possible options for treating fractures are casts, plasters as well as surgery; however, it all depends on the location and the nature of the break as well as its severity and any existing conditions all need to be taken into account.