Bone fractures are very common. They occur when bones of the body face an extra high force and stress than the capacity of the bones to withstand. People do suffer fractures in different type of accidents like slip, trip and fall and sports accidents. Diseases like osteoporosis and cancer weakens the bones and also cause fractures. Symptoms of fractures include pain, swelling, deformation, bruising and in severe cases disability to use affected area. Serious fractures take several months to heal completely. It is important to take proper care to prevent fractures. In case of receiving the bone fracture complete and proper treatment is essential to minimize the symptoms.
Prevention of Bone Fractures
Prevention is very important to avoid the worse effects of bone fractures. A person already suffering from osteoporosis may never walk in his life after receiving a fracture. Preventing fractures means to avoid its causes that usually slip, trip and fall and road traffic accidents. So, it is important to;
• Wear seat belts, to avoid injuries and fractures.Wear safety helmets and protective clothing while driving motorbikes and cycles.
• Use safety tools and equipment in lifting and manual handling at workplace.
• Stay careful at workplace to avoid slipping on a wet floor, tripping due to trailing wires and displace objects and falling from the heights.
• Keep the walkways clear and clean to avoid slips, trips and falls.
• Take regular exercise, especially if you are suffering from osteoporosis. It may improve your fitness, balance and strength.
Treatment of Bone Fractures
It is very important to start regular treatment soon after experiencing the bone fracture. Complete recovery from fracture may take several weeks to months. It all depends how care you give to your doctor’s advice and treatment process. To realign the bone at its actual position different options can be used including;
• Surgery to place the bone in its original position.
• Immobilizationthrough cast and splint. The cast is used to fix the bone at its original position till it heals properly.
• Traction is one of the techniques to align the bone using steady and gentle pulling exercise.
• Metal pins and screws are used to treat the fractures in external fixation and internal fixation methods.
Prevention andTreatment of Bone Fractures