What are the symptoms of a fracture?

Written by Wang Cheng Lin
Orthopedics
Updated on December 24, 2024
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After a fracture, three characteristic manifestations occur. The first one is abnormal movement. This abnormal movement is due to the formation of an unusual activity of the fracture ends in the affected limb, known as abnormal movement. The second one is called deformity, which is also due to a significant deformity in the affected limb after the fracture ends. The third one is called bone crepitus, also known as bone rubbing sound, which is the sound produced when the fracture ends rub against each other. These three are specific signs of a fracture. In addition to these three, there will also be severe pain in the affected limb, and this pain is very intense, rendering the limb immobile. Secondly, there will be obvious swelling, which is caused by bleeding in the medullary cavity of the fracture ends. The third is functional impairment, as the affected limb will definitely be immobile after the fracture.

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Written by Lv Yao
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How to care for a patellar fracture

A patellar fracture occurs, the first step is to immobilize the patellofemoral joint. During treatment, the primary goal is to prevent the formation of lower limb thrombosis. Therefore, early on, patients can be actively guided to contract the quadriceps and calf triceps muscles, while also performing dorsiflexion and flexion exercises of the ankle joint to avoid ankle stiffness. As the condition stabilizes, a cushion can be placed under the knee joint to allow for active flexion of the knee. If the fracture has stabilized, the patient can sit at the edge of the bed and let the knee naturally flex downward. If there is difficulty, the healthy limb can be used to help push and squeeze the injured limb to achieve a flexion close to ninety degrees. Patients can also lie in bed, hug their thighs with both hands, and flex the knee joint beyond ninety degrees to enhance this type of knee exercise.

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Orthopedics
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Symptoms of fractures

Patients with fractures typically exhibit marked pain symptoms locally, accompanied by local swelling and limited movement. Some patients may also present with fever as a clinical symptom. There might be clear signs of bone crepitus and a sensation of bone rubbing on palpation. In severe cases, deformities or abnormal movement may occur, which are common clinical symptoms of fractures. For the diagnosis of fractures, it is necessary to actively take a regular X-ray. For some occult fractures, it is essential to conduct a CT scan and three-dimensional reconstructive CT to confirm the diagnosis.

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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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Symptoms of secondary lumbar vertebral fracture

It usually manifests as the patient experiencing significant lower back pain symptoms, and limited mobility in the lower back area, inhibiting walking. When the fracture is severe, it can cause damage to the patient's spinal nerves or cauda equina nerves, resulting in numbness, weakness, and pain in one or both lower limbs, and even weakness in extending the big toe or the ankle. The patient may feel a sensation of heat in the perineal region, and abnormalities in urination and defecation may occur, which in severe cases can lead to complete paralysis. These are common clinical symptoms of secondary lumbar spine fractures. Usually, a diagnosis can be confirmed with a regular X-ray, a local CT scan, and magnetic resonance imaging.

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How to exercise with a patellar fracture?

After a patella fracture, it is necessary to fix and immobilize the patella for some time. During the immobilization, knee joint stiffness may occur, affecting the flexion and extension movements of the knee. Therefore, while treating a patella fracture, it is also important to guide the patient in functional exercises. For example, during the early stages of immobilization, the patient can actively contract the quadriceps femoris and the triceps surae to prevent thrombosis. This muscle exercise can also help avoid muscle atrophy. Additionally, patients can be instructed to dorsally extend the ankle joint to strengthen the ankle pump training and avoid ankle stiffness. Once the fracture is stabilized, the patient can sit beside the bed and let the knee bend naturally. When close to the bed, the knee can bend up to ninety degrees. If natural bending is difficult, the healthy limb can be used to push the injured limb closer to the bed, allowing the knee to bend to ninety degrees. After reaching ninety degrees, it might be appropriate to use crutches for walking activities. If bending beyond ninety degrees is necessary, the patient should lie flat on the bed, hug the thigh of the injured limb with both hands, flex the hip joint, and then allow the knee joint to bend through gravity beyond ninety degrees, approaching the normal range.