Also called: Also called: Broken bone
A fracture is a break, usually in a bone. If the broken bone punctures the skin, it is called an open or compound fracture. Fractures commonly happen because of car accidents, falls or sports injuries. Another cause is osteoporosis, which causes weakening of the bones. Overuse can cause stress fractures, which are very small cracks in the bone.
Symptoms of a fracture are
- Out-of-place or misshapen limb or joint
- Swelling, bruising or bleeding
- Intense pain
- Numbness and tingling
- Limited mobility or inability to move a limb
You need to get medical care right away for any fracture. You may need to wear a cast or splint. Sometimes you need surgery to put in plates, pins or screws to keep the bone in place.
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Fractures and Sprains(Patient Education Institute) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/fracturesandsprains/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/fracturesandsprainsspanish/htm/index.htm
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Fractures: An Overview(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) - http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00139&return_link=0
Also available in Spanish http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00475
- JAMA Patient Page: Bone Fractures(American Medical Association) - http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/reprint/291/17/2160.pdf
- Slow-Healing Bones May Get Boost from Drug(04/14/2009, HealthDay) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_82887.html
- Bone Cell Injection Helps Fractures Heal(02/13/2009, Reuters Health) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_80358.html
- Astronauts' Bone Strength Lost in Space(02/12/2009, Reuters Health) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_80251.html
- Bone Scan(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/bone-scan/MY00306/METHOD=print&DSECTION=all
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Bone X-Ray (Radiography)(American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America) - http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=bonerad&bhcp=1
Also available in Spanish http://www.radiologyinfo.org/sp/info.cfm?pg=bonerad
- Bone and Tissue Transplantation(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) - http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00115
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Care of Casts and Splints(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) - http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00095
Also available in Spanish http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00496
- Internal Fixation for Fractures(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) - http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00196&return_link=0
- Bone Mass Measurement: What the Numbers Mean(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) - http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Bone/Bone_Health/bone_mass_measure.asp
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JAMA Patient Page: Osteopenia and Preventing Fractures(American Medical Association) - http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/reprint/296/21/2644.pdf
Also available in Spanish http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/data/296/21/2644/DC1/1
- Once Is Enough: A Guide to Preventing Future Fractures(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) - http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Bone/Osteoporosis/Fracture/default.asp
- Preventing Falls and Related Fractures(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) - http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Bone/Osteoporosis/Fracture/preventing_falls.asp
- MedlinePlus: Mobility Aids - Canes, crutches, walkers, wheelchairs - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/mobilityaids.html
- Physical Fields (Magnetic, Electrical and Sonic) for Bone Healing(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) - http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00279&return_link=0
- Avulsion Fracture: How Is It Treated?(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/avulsion-fracture/AN00200/METHOD=print
- Broken Jaw(InteliHealth) - http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/9339/10210.html
- Broken Ribs(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/broken-ribs/DS00939/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
- Collarbone (Clavicle) Fracture(InteliHealth) - http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/9339/25438.html
- Eye Socket Fracture (Fracture of the Orbit)(InteliHealth) - http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/9339/9961.html
- Fractures of the Nose(Merck & Co., Inc.) - http://www.merck.com/mmhe/print/sec19/ch221/ch221b.html
- Nonunions(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) - http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00374
- Stress Fractures(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) - http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00112
- Fractures (Broken Bones): First Aid(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/first-aid-fractures/FA00058/METHOD=print
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Fractures and Sprains(Patient Education Institute) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/fracturesandsprains/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/fracturesandsprainsspanish/htm/index.htm
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Bone Fractures(Healthy Roads Media) - http://www.healthyroadsmedia.org/english/Files/flv/engbonefx.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.healthyroadsmedia.org/spanish/Files/flv/spabonefx.htm
- Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery (Osteotomy)(OR-Live) - One hour program - 4/30/2007 - http://www.or-live.com/distributors/NLM-400x300/she_1755/rnh.cfm?id=520
- Periarticular Locking Plate Procedure(OR-Live) - One hour program - 11/06/2006 - http://www.or-live.com/distributors/NLM/rnh.cfm?id=378
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Fractures, Bone(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Fractures,+Bone%22
- Drug Treatment for Low Bone Density or Osteoporosis to Prevent Fractures: A Clinical Practice Guideline(American College of Physicians) - Links to PDF - http://www.annals.org/cgi/reprint/149/6/I-46.pdf
- Article: No evidence for the effectiveness of bracing in patients with... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19404808&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Prospective, randomized comparison of continuous thoracic epidural and thoracic paravertebral... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19359920&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Bridge plate osteosynthesis using dynamic condylar screw (DCS) or retrograde... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19353317&tool=MedlinePlus
- Fractures -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=(fractures,bone[majr]+OR+fractures,cartilage[majr]+OR+fracture+healing[majr])+NOT+(bone+diseases[mh]+OR+hip+fractures[mh])+AND+english[la]+AND+humans[mh]+AND+(review[pt]+OR+guideline[pt]+OR+clinical+trial[pt]+OR+patient+education+handout[pt]+OR+jsubsetk[text]+OR+jsubsetn[text])+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt]+OR+case+reports[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
- Glossary of Orthopaedic Words(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) - http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/glossary.cfm
- Find an Orthopaedist(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) - http://www6.aaos.org/about/public/members.cfm
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons - http://www.aaos.org/
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National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases - http://www.niams.nih.gov/
Also available in Spanish http://www.niams.nih.gov/Portal_En_Espanol/
- Broken Bones(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/parent/general/aches/broken_bones.html
- Cool Cast Facts(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/kid/feel_better/things/casts.html
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Facts about Broken Bones(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/kid/ill_injure/aches/broken_bones.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/kid/en_espanol/seguridad/broken_bones_esp.html
- Greenstick Fractures(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/greenstick-fractures/DS00817/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
- Questions and Answers about Growth Plate Injuries(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) - http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Growth_Plate_Injuries/default.asp
- What Are Growth Plate Injuries?(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) - http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Growth_Plate_Injuries/growth_plate_injuries_ff.asp
- First Fracture May Be Warning Sign(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) - http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00281
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Falls and Fractures(National Institute on Aging) - http://www.nia.nih.gov/HealthInformation/Publications/falls.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nia.nih.gov/Espanol/Publicaciones/caĆdas
- Ankle Injuries and Disorders - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ankleinjuriesanddisorders.html
- Bone Diseases - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/bonediseases.html
- Elbow Injuries and Disorders - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/elbowinjuriesanddisorders.html
- Foot Injuries and Disorders - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/footinjuriesanddisorders.html
- Hand Injuries and Disorders - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/handinjuriesanddisorders.html
- Hip Injuries and Disorders - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/hipinjuriesanddisorders.html
- Leg Injuries and Disorders - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/leginjuriesanddisorders.html
- Neck Injuries and Disorders - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/neckinjuriesanddisorders.html
- Osteoporosis - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/osteoporosis.html
- Shoulder Injuries and Disorders - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/shoulderinjuriesanddisorders.html
- Wrist Injuries and Disorders - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/wristinjuriesanddisorders.html
- Bones, Joints and Muscles - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/bonesjointsandmuscles.html
- Injuries and Wounds - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/injuriesandwounds.html
The primary NIH organization for research on Fractures is the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases - http://www.niams.nih.gov/
Fractures - Multiple Languages - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/languages/fractures.html