Will My Fracture Heal on Its Own?: Tuscaloosa Orthopedic & Joint Institute: Orthopedic Surgeons

There are several types of bone fractures, from simple hairline fractures to complete breaks. How and where your bone breaks determine the treatment you need to aid the healing process.

At Tuscaloosa Orthopedic & Joint Institute in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, our team, led by Dr. Bryan King, specializes in treating all kinds of fractures. Here, we discuss the bone healing process and the treatments for various types of fractures.

How bones heal

When you break a bone, your body goes into instant healing mode. It immediately sends blood to the fracture site to form a clot. This enables new bone cells to develop on the sides of the fracture line and fill in the breach as it moves toward the center of the break. 

Eventually, the “threads” of the new bone tissue meet in the middle and “knit” together, and the bone is healed. This can take from a few months to a year.  

So, the answer to the central question of this blog is yes, fractured bones heal on their own. However, whether they heal properly or need assistance is another issue altogether.

Perfect conditions for self-healing bones

Stress fractures, greenstick fractures, oblique fractures, and transverse fractures are good candidates for self-healing because the parts of the broken bone remain connected or aren’t displaced. 

However, don’t take that to mean you don’t need medical attention. You may need to keep your bone immobile with a cast or splint during the healing process, or keep your weight off the limb using crutches to ensure proper healing. 

Your healing fracture also needs the right nutrients to heal well. To assist the process, increase the amount of calcium-rich foods in your diet, as deficiencies can delay healing.

Fractures that don’t heal well on their own

Complex fractures that crush your bones, break them into multiple pieces, cause spiral breaks, or separate the two sides of the break may require surgical intervention. This may include realigning and resetting the pieces, as well as the placement of surgical hardware to reattach and stabilize the pieces. 

Why you should always seek medical attention for a fracture

While some fractures need minimal medical assistance, seeking care for an accurate diagnosis is always important. 

After evaluating your fracture and reviewing diagnostic imaging of your bones, Dr. King may determine that your bone will heal nicely on its own, or he may recommend assistive devices to ensure proper healing.

If you ignore this step, you could end up with a serious complication called a malunion, a deformity that develops when the two bone ends don’t line up correctly. Symptoms of a malunion include:

• Inability to flex the affected joint
• Deformation or angulation of the bone
• Inability to extend the affected joint
• Loss of function
• Stiffness and weakness
• Pain

In most cases, the treatment for malunion is surgery.  

In addition to malunion, a fracture left to its own devices can lead to other issues, such as infection and poor blood flow, which can lead to bone and tissue death. 

If you have a fracture and you’ve been hoping it will heal on its own, come see Dr. King to find out what kind of fracture it is and how to treat it properly, so you can avoid serious complications. Call us today to schedule a consultation.

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How Long Does It Take for Foot Fractures To Heal?

Author:
Advanced Foot & Ankle Specialists

posted: Feb. 02, 2022.

At Advanced Foot & Ankle Specialists, Dr. Brandi Johnson and Dr. Mark Leitner are here for all your foot care needs! If you’ve had a foot fracture in Brandon, FL, we can help you heal. Your feet take a lot of impacts every day so sometimes fractures happen, and you need to see a podiatrist for treatment.

Foot fractures

A fracture in the ankle or foot can be extremely painful, and unfortunately, that will be the first sign of having a foot fracture in Brandon, FL. Other symptoms of a fracture can be swelling on top of the foot or outside the ankle, bruising, and increased pain with activity.

It might be possible to walk with minor fractures but it is not recommended. If you think you have a fracture you can follow the RICE method of care until you see your doctor. This stands for Rest, ice, compression, and elevation. A sprained ankle can also be painful to walk on and whether you think you have a sprain or a fracture, you should see your podiatrist for treatment.

Healing

When you’ve had a foot fracture in Brandon, FL, the bones in your foot need rest to heal. Many bones in your foot will heal on their own over time with lots of rest, but some fractures may require surgery to repair.

Depending on the kind of fracture and whether or not you need surgery, you could wear either a splint, cast, or orthopedic shoe for the healing period. A typical foot fracture takes 6 to 8 weeks to completely heal and may take even longer. The good news is that the pain will subside earlier than that and you’ll be able to walk with a cast or orthopedic shoe while you heal.

If you’ve had a foot fracture in Brandon, FL, Dr. Brandi Johnson, and Dr. Mark Leitner are here for you at Advanced Foot & Ankle Specialists. Contact us for an appointment at (813) 571-2977.

Category: Foot Condition,&nbsp Foot Issues,&nbsp Foot Injuries

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How long a fracture heals: stages and terms of bone healing

How long a fracture heals depends on the severity of the injury, the age of the patient and compliance with all medical prescriptions during the recovery period.

In elderly people, the period of bone tissue fusion is much longer due to insufficient amount of calcium in the body and age-related changes, which delay the recovery process of the whole organism.

Stages of bone regeneration

The following regeneration stages have been identified in medical practice:

• Catabolism of tissue structures and cell infiltration. The tissue dies after damage, cells break down into elements, and hematomas appear.

• Stage of cell differentiation. This stage is characterized by the primary fusion of bones. With a good blood supply, the union proceeds according to the type of primary osteogenesis. The duration of the process takes 10-15 days.

• Stage of primary osteon formation. A callus begins to form on the damaged area. Primary growth takes place. The tissue is pierced by capillaries, its protein base hardens. A chaotic network of bone trabeculae sprouts, and they, connecting, form the primary osteon.

• The stage of spongiosation of the callus. This stage is characterized by the appearance of a plastic bone cover, a cortical substance appears, and the damaged structure is restored. Depending on the severity of the damage, this stage can last from several months to up to 3 years.

A prerequisite for a normally healing fracture is the course of recovery stages without disturbances and complications.

Fracture healing rate in adults

The process of bone healing is complex and takes a long time. With a closed fracture in one place of the limb, the healing rate is high and ranges from 9 to 14 days. Multiple damage heals on average about 1 month. An open fracture is considered the most dangerous and longest for recovery, the healing period in such cases exceeds 2 months. When the bones are displaced relative to each other, the duration of the regeneration process increases even more.

Fractures of the upper extremities heal slowly, but they are less dangerous to humans than injuries to the lower extremities. They heal in the following terms:

• phalanges of fingers – 22 days;

• wrist bones – 29 days;

• radius – 29-36 days;

• ulna – 61-76 days;

• bones of the forearm – 70-85 days;

• humerus – 42-59 days.

Terms of healing of fractures of the lower extremities:

• calcaneus – 35-42 days;

• metatarsal bone – 21-42 days;

• ankle – 45-60 days;

• patella – 30 days;

• femur – 60-120 days;

• pelvic bones – 30 days.

Poor healing can be caused by improper treatment, overuse of a broken limb, or insufficient levels of calcium in the body.

Speed ​​of healing of children’s fractures

In a child, fracture healing is 30% faster than in adults. This is due to the high content of ossein and protein in the children’s skeleton. The periosteum is thicker, it has an excellent blood supply. The skeleton of children is constantly growing, and the presence of growth zones accelerates bone fusion even more. In children from six to twelve years of age with damaged bone tissue, fragments are corrected without surgical intervention, and therefore, in most situations, specialists manage only by applying gypsum.

Most common fractures in children:

• Full. The bone in such cases is separated into several parts.

• Compression fractures occur due to strong compression along the axis of the long bone. Healing occurs in 15-25 days.

• Green branch fracture. There is a bending of the limb, with the formation of cracks and fragments. Occurs with excessive pressure with a force insufficient for complete destruction.

• Plastic bend. Appears in the knee and elbow joints. Partial destruction of bone tissue without scars and cracks is observed.

First aid for fractures

First aid for fractures plays an important role in the rate of healing of broken bones. If it is an open fracture, it is very important that no infection gets into the wound in order to avoid inflammation and suppuration in this area. Therefore, the damaged area must be decontaminated, for this the circumference of the wound should be treated with an antiseptic and covered with a sterile napkin until the medical team arrives.

In order to transport the victim to a medical institution, it is necessary to organize the immobilization of the limb. They use improvised means to complete the task – plywood, flat boards, tree branches, which are fixed to the injured limb with a cloth or bandage. If a person has a spinal injury, then a solid stretcher is used for transportation, or improvised means, such as flat boards, on which the patient must be carefully laid.

The timing of fracture consolidation directly depends on the provision of first aid and emergency transportation of the victim to the hospital.

Healing mechanism

Fracture healing begins immediately after injury. Fusion can be of two types:

1. Primary splicing. If the bones are firmly connected, there is no need to build up a callus on the broken area, the fracture heals easily and with good blood circulation.
2. Secondary splicing. In this case, it is necessary to increase the callus, due to the active movement of bone fragments.

The mechanism of fracture fusion is very complex, therefore it is divided into certain stages:

1. The first stage is the formation of a clot formed from the blood surrounding the damaged area. After some time, they are transformed into a new tissue for the structure of the bone. Such a clot forms within a few days after the injury.
2. In the second stage, this clot is filled with osteoblasts and osteoclasts. They are very helpful in healing and recovery. By filling the clot around the fracture, they smooth and flatten the bone fragments, after which a granular bridge is created. It is he who will hold the edges of the bone to prevent displacement.
3. The third stage is characterized by the appearance of callus. After a few weeks (2-3) from injury, the granular bridge turns into bone tissue. During this period of time, it is still very fragile, and differs from ordinary bone tissue. This area is called the callus. To prevent injury, it is important that the fracture is securely immobilized.
4. During the fourth stage, the fracture heals completely. After a certain time after the incident, depending on its severity and site (3-10 weeks), blood circulation is completely normalized at this place, which helps to strengthen the bone. The tissue recovers a little longer (6-12 months).

At the end of all stages, the fused bone regains its strength and is able to withstand different loads.

Factors affecting the rate of bone healing

The healing of a broken bone depends on a number of factors that either accelerate it or hinder it. The regeneration process itself is individual for each patient.

First aid is critical to the speed of healing. With an open fracture, it is important to prevent infection from entering the wound, because. inflammation and suppuration will slow down the regeneration process.

Healing is faster when small bones are fractured.

In open fractures, callus formation takes much longer if wound infection develops, which is accompanied by bone sequestration and post-traumatic osteomyelitis. That is why, with improper fracture therapy, the formation of callus slows down or does not occur at all. In such situations, fractures that do not grow together for a long time, characterized by slow consolidation, as well as false joints appear:

• If patients suffer from hypovitaminosis and beriberi (osteomalacia in pregnant women, rickets, scurvy).

• If there are violations of the activity of the parathyroid glands (decrease in the concentration of calcium in the blood) and adrenal hyperfunction.

• The presence of concomitant diseases occurring in the chronic stage, as well as inflammatory processes. Any pathological processes in the body significantly delay the recovery period after a fracture.

• The presence of excess body weight adversely affects the healing process of bone tissue.

• Metabolic disorders.

• Non-compliance with the terms of wearing a plaster cast. Many cases of too long fusion of bone tissue are due to the fact that a person does not want to walk in a cast for a long time, removes it ahead of time set by the doctor. The fused area of ​​the bone is under pressure, displacement occurs.

How quickly the bones grow together also depends on factors such as the need for an implant. This occurs in cases where there are too many bone fragments, they are very small, and it is not possible to collect them again.

How to accelerate bone healing?

In order for the process of bone regeneration to occur faster, adequate treatment should be obtained, the patient should be provided with proper nutrition, vitamin complexes enriched with calcium, vitamin D. The source of the latter component is chicken yolk and sunlight.

The process of bone fusion after a fracture, not least depends on the amount of calcium in the body (a “building” mineral element for bone tissue). To increase the concentration of this element in the body, the patient is prescribed special medications. Nutrition is necessarily adjusted, the basis of the diet should be dairy products.

Physical activity is recommended for patients with bone injury within a few days after the injury. Physical exercises can be divided into activities during the immobilization period and activity during the post-immobilization period.

At the time when the plaster is applied, the load is given to prevent stagnant processes. The following exercises are performed:

• ideomotor exercises – mental preservation of motor activity in the damaged area;

• free muscle exercises to keep active and prevent muscle wasting;

• static exercises to maintain tone;

• exercises for the opposite limb.

Careful implementation of all these points will surely speed up the recovery process, and the bone will heal quickly and correctly.

How to recover quickly after a fracture?

Depending on size and location, broken bones may heal quickly or slowly. Small bones on the fingers of the extremities grow together in 10-20 days, medium bones of the hands – in 30 days, and bones of the legs – at least a month. The bones of the hip joint and spine are most difficult to fuse – from six months to a year. The longer the process of formation of scar tissue at the site of a former fracture, the more difficult it is to rehabilitate after an injury. Is it possible to make bone tissue regenerate faster than usual?

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Bone fractures accompany people throughout their lives, from infancy to old age.

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Hormonal acceleration

Other things being equal, bones in young people will grow together 30 percent faster than in older people. The fact is that the level of sex hormones is closely related to the ability of body tissues to recover. Accordingly, for accelerated healing of a broken or cracked bone, the body should be forced to raise the level of sex hormones. This can be achieved by taking drugs that stimulate the production of your own hormones in the body, or by taking synthetic substances that increase their level. At the same time, various tumors in the body due to the onset of hormonal imbalance, as well as increased body hair, can become side effects. In any case, such hormones should be taken only when prescribed by a doctor.

Bone callus begins to form at the fracture site after one week on average. After 30–40 days, the broken bone gains almost the same strength as it had before the injury. It takes about a year for the callus to turn into full-fledged bone tissue.

Eat calcium

The building material for bones and ligaments is calcium . But calcium will not be absorbed by itself, even if you stuff the body with milk, cottage cheese, sour cream and yogurts. Calcium will begin to be intensively consumed by the bones only with an increased level of testosterone. And again we run into sex hormones. However, the mechanism of androgen production, as they can also be called, depends on physical activity. As soon as you start exercising, gymnastics, and even light exercises, your natural testosterone levels will rise. Of course, you shouldn’t try jogging if you have a broken leg. In this case, you can even load only the muscles of the hands by squeezing the expander. If the radial hand is broken, then you can go in for sports walking and start practicing squats, coupled with flexion and twisting exercises. Along with the strengthening of the loaded muscles, the strengthening of the entire musculoskeletal frame will inevitably begin, and the injured bone will receive an increased portion of building materials.

A balanced diet

Proper nutrition on sick leave is a guarantee that the body will be able to use all its reserves and heal a bone fracture as quickly as possible. Eat more vegetables and fruits, drink fruit drinks and natural juices, eat nuts and consume as much protein as possible.

Magnetic Therapy

In the event that an injury precludes active movement, such as a fracture of the hip joint, ribs or bones of the spine, we recommend referring to method magnetic therapy . Its essence is simple: when living tissue enters the magnetic field, membrane permeability increases in cells, blood supply to tissues improves, edema and swelling subside, and destroyed vessels begin to recover. In the magnetic field, sodium and calcium ions are activated, which significantly accelerates the process of formation of new bone tissue. Of course, only a doctor can prescribe the correct magnetotherapy, which has a large number of different settings and nuances.