Is the fracture serious?

Written by Lv Yao
Orthopedics
Updated on December 25, 2024
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A fracture is when the integrity and continuity of the bone is compromised, resulting in symptoms such as pain, swelling, limited mobility, and deformity. The severity of a fracture depends on the extent of bone displacement, the location of the fracture, and whether there is associated damage to vital organs, blood vessels, or nerves. If the fracture is a simple one with minor displacement, it generally is not very serious. Appropriate repositioning can be selected, followed by brace support or plaster cast external fixation to facilitate bone healing. If the fracture is accompanied by significant damage to important blood vessels, nerves, or organs, and there are multiple fractures, this type of fracture is considered more serious. It could lead to shock from bleeding caused by the fracture, which can be life-threatening.

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Written by Li Jie
Orthopedics
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Can you move with a fracture?

Regarding the question of whether fracture patients can move, we need to look at it from two aspects. We say that fracture patients can move and yet cannot move. Why do we say that fracture patients cannot move? Because after a fracture, we need effective reduction and fixation. After the fixation, the fractured area should not be vigorously moved, as the growth of the bone requires a stable environment. Therefore, we say that the fractured area should not move. However, we advocate movement for fractures. Why advocate movement? We can encourage performing activities with other parts of the body, and the distal part of the fractured limb can perform isometric muscle contractions and joint movements. Appropriate exercises are beneficial for reducing swelling locally, but the fractured area itself should be immobilized.

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Written by Wang Cheng Lin
Orthopedics
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Symptoms of toe fracture

The symptoms of a toe fracture primarily include pain, swelling, and limited mobility. If there is a noticeable displacement of the fracture ends, a typical deformity can also occur. For the treatment of toe fractures, conservative treatment such as casting or using a brace may be sufficient if it is a simple linear fracture without significant misalignment of the fracture ends. However, if there is substantial shortening, rotation, separation, or if the fracture is comminuted, surgical treatment is required. During surgery, the fracture ends are repositioned through an incision. After repositioning, a Kirschner wire is used to internally fixate the fracture ends, allowing the bone to heal in the proper alignment without leaving any deformity. This describes the surgical treatment method.

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Written by Li Jie
Orthopedics
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Fracture symptoms

After a patient suffers a fracture, they generally experience common symptoms associated with the injury, such as pain and swelling at the site of the fracture, which are common symptoms that can appear with all injuries. At the same time, there are some symptoms specific to fractures, which include three distinct symptoms: First, deformity, meaning the external appearance of the fracture patient will change; Second, the sound and sensation of bone rubbing, for example, after a limb fracture, the two broken ends may produce a rubbing sound or sensation; Third, abnormal movement, meaning that after the fracture, the site of the fracture will exhibit a level of mobility and range of motion that is abnormal. These are the three specific symptoms of fracture patients.

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Written by Luo Peng
Thoracic Surgery
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How painful is a rib fracture?

How painful is a rib fracture? Personally, I have never experienced a fracture, but I have treated many patients with rib fractures. I can say that most rib fractures are very painful, especially those where the fracture site stimulates the nerve, causing severe pain, even unbearable enough to make one cry out. Generally speaking, with rib fractures, most people are in so much pain that they dare not cough or even take deep breaths. Some patients can barely get up once lying down, as any movement during the process can cause intense pain. There are also cases where patients have difficulty lying back down after getting up, experiencing significant pain in the process. Essentially, any activity that involves moving the fractured area is avoided due to the pain, which highlights how painful rib fractures can be.

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Written by Lv Yao
Orthopedics
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Post-fracture sequelae

After a fracture, the potential sequelae depend on the location of the fracture and the chosen treatment method. For example, fractures involving joint surfaces can lead to traumatic arthritis after treatment. Similarly, femur fractures can lead to the formation of lower limb thrombosis after surgery and the fracture itself. Some fractures near joints might also affect the range of joint motion after treatment. Therefore, the type of sequelae after treating a fracture depends on both the location of the fracture and the treatment approach chosen.