Do broken bones need medical attention?

Any suspected broken bone(s) should be evaluated by a physician. Signs and symptoms of a possible fracture are swelling, bruising, pain, deformity, and/ or difficulty with normal use. In order to confirm or rule-out a fracture your physician will more than likely obtain x-rays and occasionally a CT scan or MRI. If a fracture is indeed present the location, type, and displacement of the bone fragments will help direct the course of treatment.

It is important to seek medical attention for suspected fractures because untreated fractures, especially fractures that are displaced, can lead to permanent deformity, loss of function, and/ or other medical problems. Even some fractures that are initially non-displaced can slip out of place over time if they are not immobilized properly and allowed to heal. Methods of non-surgical immobilization include splints, casts, and/ or braces. Surgery may be recommended by an Orthopaedic surgeon if the type of fracture tends to slip out of place, heals together poorly without surgery, is already significantly displaced, is dangerous to the surrounding nerves and blood vessels, and/ or places the individual at risk for other medical problems.

Even though bones have amazing healing powers, various complications sometimes occur with fractures, depending on the person's age, the bone and the severity of the break.

Children are susceptible to various kinds of fractures, but their bones typically heal faster and more completely than their adult counterparts.

Infection is a threat with any compound fracture because a break in the skin gives germs an opportunity to enter. Broken ribs may pierce internal organs. The healing process itself can also inadvertently harm other tissues and organs.

In compartment syndrome, oxygen can't enter a fracture's injured muscle because the tissue has swelled so tightly. If oxygen is insufficient, the muscle tissue can keep swelling until the tissue is injured and dies.

Pulmonary embolism results when a fracture's blood clotting breaks loose and then blocks a lung artery. This condition, particularly common with hip and pelvis fractures, accounts for about one-third of hip-fracture deaths.