Fracture (cont.)
Benjamin Wedro, MD, FACEP, FAAEM
Dr. Ben Wedro practices emergency medicine at Gundersen Clinic, a regional trauma center in La Crosse, Wisconsin. His background includes undergraduate and medical studies at the University of Alberta, a Family Practice internship at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario and residency training in Emergency Medicine at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.
William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR
Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.
In this Article
- Bone fracture facts
- Introduction and definition of bone fracture
- What causes a bone fracture?
- What are the signs and symptoms of a bone fracture?
- What are common types of bone fractures?
- Broken wrist
- Broken hip
- Broken leg
- Broken shoulder
- Broken hand or fingers
- Open fracture
- Stress fracture
- Compression fracture
- Broken rib
- Skull fracture
- Other fractures
- Bone fracture in children
- How is a bone fracture diagnosed?
- What is the treatment for a bone fracture?
- Bone fracture surgery
- Find a local Doctor in your town
Broken hip
Hip fractures are the most common fracture of people over the age of 75. The hip may break because of a fall, or osteoporosis may cause a spontaneous fracture without trauma that can lead to a subsequent fall. Not all hip fractures are the same and the treatment, almost always surgery, depends upon where the femur bone is broken. Common locations include subcapital, femoral neck, intertrochanteric and subtrochanteric. Each describes a location in the femur (thigh bone) where a break can commonly occur.
Broken leg
Lower extremity fractures may involve the femur (thigh bone), the knee, the tibia and/or fibula, the ankle and the bones of the foot. Each has their own relatively common presentation and treatment plan. The severity depends upon the location of the fracture, whether the bones are in alignment or displaced, and if the type of fracture is unstable. Some fractures are unstable and routinely and commonly need surgery, while others are relatively stable and can be observed. Unfortunately, even stable fractures can sometimes become misaligned.
Broken shoulder
Shoulder fractures are often treated without surgery while hips routinely need repair. Fractures of the humerus, elbow, forearm and wrist have different treatment plans compared to similar bones in the leg.
Broken hand or fingers
Hands are used as tools and are routinely injured, often because of crush injuries. In addition to the bone injury, the focus of the hand exam is on the tendons, arteries and nerves, again looking at function in addition to anatomy. Bones in the hands and finger need to align properly to make certain that the power, range of motion and sensation are maintained optimally.
Next: Open fracture
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