Fractures | Physio4Life

Fractures

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INJURY TITLE

Fractures

 

INJURY OVERVIEW

This is when the bone breaks into two or more pieces or sometimes it can stay in tact but sustain a crack in it.  A fracture and a ‘broken bone’ are indeed the same thing, but the management of each fracture may differ depending on the severity.

 

A fracture usually happens due to some type of trauma (fall, car crash, direct blow to the bone), but it can also happen if there is an infection or pathology of some sort in the bone itself.

 

INJURY IN-DEPTH INFORMATION

Fractures are grouped according to their type.  This usually depends on how the fracture was sustained and how many fragments there are.  For example, a spiral fracture is usually sustained via a twisting injury.  In this case there is a lot of bone included in the fracture and healing can take quite a while.  In an avulsion fracture (when a ligament tears away from the bone, taking some of the bone with it), there is only a small amount of bone involved but it is a fracture all the same.

 

COMMON SIGNS & SYMPTOMS

  • Pain
  • Swelling
  • Loss of function (ability to bear weight)
  • Bruising
  • Movement restrictions

 

HOW IS IT ASSESSED

  • X-Ray is usually the scan of choice
  • In smaller fractures sometimes an MRI or bone scan is better at finding the fracture.

 

GENERAL TREATMENT

  • Depends upon the type and severity of the fracture
  • Often immobilisation is required
  • Sometimes wearing a plaster cast or a sling
  • You may be required to use crutches and splints
  • It is all designed to improve the healing response after the injury
  • Physiotherapy is usually required to ensure the joints return to normal function and strength.

 

Exercise Videos: i.e.

  • Rotator cuff strengthening
  • Pec stretch
  • etc

 

WHICH HEALTH PROFESSIONAL TO CONSULT

PHYSIO     X

MEDIC     X

PODIATRY     

Put an ‘X’ next to each health professional that most commonly deals with this injury.

i.e. tennis elbow would be Physio and Medic as injections are common, whereas for muscular LBP it would be Physio and not Medic as they would just refer them to a Physio.

 

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