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Bone fractures: Symptoms, diagnosis and treatment

On Behalf of | Aug 11, 2018 | Uncategorized |

Whether you get into an accident at work or your job, you may break a bone. The many different kinds of fractures are:

  • Closed fracture: When your bone fractures, but there is no open wound or puncture in your skin.
  • Open fracture: When your bone breaks through your skin.
  • Displaced fracture: When your bone snaps into multiple parts and moves.
  • Non-displaced fracture: When your bone cracks but maintains proper alignment.

However, it can be confusing to know exactly if you have a broken bone because of your accident. Here is some helpful information.

Broken bones symptoms

Some ways to know if you have a bone fracture include:

  • Bruising or swelling around your bone
  • Pain in a certain area of your body that gets worse when you move it or apply pressure to it
  • A deformity in your arm or leg
  • Loss of function in the injured area 

broken bone is a medical emergency. If you think you have one, go to the emergency room or urgent care.

Bone fracture diagnosis

When you go to a doctor, he or she will likely take an X-ray of the injured area to see if there is a fracture. However, certain fractures do not show up with an X-ray. In certain cases, other tests are necessary, such as an MRI, CT scan or bone scan.

Treating a broken bone

The doctor will set your bone in its proper place and immobilize it until it fully heals. Depending on the location and severity of the fracture, the doctor may be able to set the bone by hand. However, some fractures require surgery for repositioning.

In certain cases, the doctor may use devices like plates, screws or rods to hold your bone in place. After this, your doctor may advise you to use a splint or cast and painkiller medication. If you have an open fracture, your doctor may also prescribe antibiotics to prevent infection.