A fracture is the same thing as a broken bone. It happens when excessive pressure causes the bone to split or break. When the bone protrudes through the skin, it is known as an open or compound fracture. When there is a narrow crack in the bone, often due to ongoing forces against the bone, it is called a stress or hairline fracture.

Types of Bone Fractures

With so many bones in the body, there is always the potential that one or more can fracture. Such injuries can include broken bones in the skull, face, vertebrae, legs, arms, trunk, and pelvis.

Possible Causes

Common ways for bones to break include motor vehicle accidents (which are likely to cause arm, leg, or pelvic fractures or broken ribs; unbelted passengers or drivers can damage even more bones), slip and falls (particularly among those older than 65; broken hips are typical), falling from a height, child abuse, and being hit or repetitive actions (the latter two may stem from sports activities, particularly among young people.)

Symptoms

These may include a body part that is obviously twisted or protruding from the skin, swollen, bruised or bleeding body parts, extreme pain, numbness, tingling, and/or the inability or reduced ability to move a body part.

Prevention

Safety goes a long way in preventing bones from breaking. Use appropriate safety gear such as helmets, pads for the elbows, wrists, knees and shins. Talk to children about safe behavior, including not jumping or climbing on furniture, and make your home safe by moving or securing throw rugs, electrical cords, and other items. For very small children, baby–proof your home of potentially dangerous things that a child might be interested in. For those who are younger, install grab bars in the bathroom or tub so that bathing is an opportunity for all.

Diagnosis and Treatment

If you or a loved one suspect a bone is broken, an x–ray will usually be necessary to determine exactly where and what kind of fracture happened, though sometimes it is obvious if a bone is protruding. Because there are so many different bones and ways that breaks can happen, there are various ways the fracture can be treated. They may include splints (which keep the bone from moving), braces (which give support), plaster casts (which also secure and support the bone), metal rods or plates that are put into the body during surgery (which secure pieces of bone) or simply taking painkillers.

Compensation

There are many reasons why a person may have broken a bone or bones, including motor vehicle accidents, biking or pedestrian accidents, slips and falls, sports injuries, and more. If you or a loved one have been injured this way, the attorneys at Altman & Altman can help you determine if you may be eligible to be compensated for them. Call us at 617.492.3000 or 800.481.6199 toll–free, or contact us online for a free consultation.