- Main types of fractures
- Main symptoms of fracture
- 1. Spine fracture
- 2. Foot fracture
- 3. Fracture of the hand, wrist or finger
- 4. Knee fracture
- 5. Fracture in the nose
The fracture is the loss of continuity of the bone, that is, breaking of the bone, generating one or more pieces.
Usually the fracture happens due to falls, blows or accidents, however women in menopause and the elderly, have more fragile bones, which favors the occurrence of fractures more often, even during daily activities.
Main types of fractures
Fractures can be classified according to the cause, and can be:
- Traumatic: they are the most characteristic of accidents, for example, in which excessive force is applied to the bone, but it can also be due to repetitive movements that gradually damage the bone, favoring the fracture; Pathological: are those that occur without explanation or due to small blows, as in osteoporosis or bone tumors, since they leave the bones more fragile.
In addition, fractures can be classified according to the injury into:
- Simple: only the bone is reached; Exposed: the skin is perforated, with bone visualization. As it is an open lesion, it is more susceptible to infections, and prophylactic antibiotics are usually recommended. See what to do in case of open fractures; Complicated: they affect structures other than bone, such as nerves, muscles or blood vessels; Incomplete: these are injuries to the bones that do not break, but result in fracture symptoms.
Usually the diagnosis is made through X-ray examination, but depending on the extent of the lesion and the person's characteristics and symptoms, the doctor may request another more accurate image examination, such as MRI, in addition to laboratory tests.. Find out how first aid is done on fractures.
Main symptoms of fracture
Fractures can generate very characteristic signs and symptoms, such as:
- Severe pain; Swelling of the fractured site; Deformity of the site; Total or partial inability to move the fractured limb; Presence of bruises; Presence of injuries at the fracture site; Temperature difference between the fractured site and the non-fracture; Numbness and tingling of the area;
When there is a fracture, it is in no way recommended to try to put the bone or limb in place, as it can cause even more damage, besides being quite painful. The best thing to do is to seek medical help so that the right actions are taken and treatment can be done.
Fractures of the arms, forearms and collarbones are more common, unlike fractures of the legs which are more rare, as these bones are more resistant.
1. Spine fracture
The spine fracture is severe and can cause the person to have their legs or body paralyzed depending on the affected vertebra. This type of fracture can happen due to traffic accidents and falls from great heights, for example, and is characterized by severe pain in the spine, tingling or loss of sensation below the fracture and inability to move the legs or arms. Find out how the treatment for spine fracture is done.
2. Foot fracture
Foot fractures are frequent and can happen due to falls or direct impact with a hard object, and must be immobilized when the fracture is identified. The main signs and symptoms of the fracture are swelling, injury, deformity and inability to move the foot.
3. Fracture of the hand, wrist or finger
Fractures in the hand, wrist or finger are common in people who play sports such as handball, volleyball or boxing and the main symptoms are difficulty in making a certain movement, swelling in the fractured area and color change.
4. Knee fracture
The most common symptoms of a knee fracture are swelling and severe pain when moving the knee and can happen due to the presence of a bone tumor, traffic accident or direct impact with a hard surface.
5. Fracture in the nose
The nose fracture can happen due to falls, physical aggression and contact sports, such as boxing, for example. Symptoms of a broken nose are usually swelling, pain, and misalignment of the nose, as well as difficulty breathing.
