Also called: Broken bone
Summary
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.
Symptoms of a fracture are:
• Intense pain
• Deformity – the limb looks out of place
• Swelling, bruising, or tenderness around the injury
• Numbness and tingling
• Problems moving a limb
You need to get medical care right away for any fracture. An x-ray can tell if your bone is broken. You may need to wear a cast or splint. Sometimes you need surgery to put in plates, pins or screws to keep the bone in place.
Diagnosis and Tests
• Bone Scan (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
• Bone X-Ray (Radiography) (American College of Radiology; Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish
Prevention and Risk Factors
• Bone Mass Measurement: What the Numbers Mean (National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) Also in Spanish
• Comparing Osteoporosis Drugs: The Bisphosphonates(Consumer Reports) – PDF
• Once Is Enough: A Guide to Preventing Future Fractures (National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases)
• Preventing Falls and Related Fractures (National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) – PDF
Treatments and Therapies
• Fractures (Broken Bones): First Aid (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
Living With
• Mobility Aids: MedlinePlus Health Topic (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
• Recovering from Falls (Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation)
Specifics
• Avulsion Fracture: How Is It Treated? (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
• Stress Fractures (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
Images
• Bone fracture repair – slideshow (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Creating a sling – slideshow (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Clinical Trials
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Fractures, Bone (National Institutes of Health)
Journal Articles
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
• Article: Fracture risk assessment in diabetes mellitus.
• Article: Nursing Method of Patients with Severe Traumatic Brain Injury and Fracture…
• Fractures — see more articles
Find an Expert
• National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Also in Spanish
Children
• Broken Bones (For Kids) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
• Broken Bones (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation)
• Cast Care: Do’s and Don’ts (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
• Casts (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
• Greenstick Fractures (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
• Growth Plate Injuries (National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) Also in Spanish
Teenagers
• What to Expect When Your Cast Comes Off (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
Older Adults
• Falls and Fractures in Older Adults: Causes and Prevention (National Institute on Aging) Also in Spanish
Patient Handouts
• Broken bone (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Closed reduction of a fractured bone (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Closed reduction of a fractured bone – aftercare (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health.
Original Article – https://medlineplus.gov/fractures.html
