How does a bone fracture feel. What are the common types of bone fractures. How long does it take for a broken bone to heal. What are the stages of bone fracture healing. How is a broken bone treated. What factors affect bone fracture recovery. How can you promote faster healing of a broken bone.

Understanding Bone Fractures: Types and Symptoms

Bone fractures can occur due to various reasons, ranging from high-impact injuries to underlying health conditions. Understanding the different types of fractures and their symptoms is crucial for proper diagnosis and treatment.

Common Types of Bone Fractures

• Transverse fractures: Clean breaks straight across the bone
• Stress fractures: Thin cracks, also known as hairline fractures
• Oblique fractures: Breaks at an angle
• Greenstick fractures: Breaks on one side, bends on the other (common in children)
• Comminuted fractures: Bone breaks into three or more pieces
• Compression fractures: Often occur in the spine
• Spiral fractures: Twisting breaks around the bone
• Avulsion fractures: When a tendon or ligament pulls off a piece of bone

Symptoms of a Bone Fracture

When a bone fractures, the body sends out various signals to indicate something is wrong. The primary symptoms include:

• Deep, intense ache or sharp pain
• Bruising around the affected area
• Stiffness and difficulty moving the injured body part
• Swelling and warmth around the fracture site
• Weakness in the affected limb or body part
• Visible deformity or unusual angle of the bone
• Chills, dizziness, or wooziness (in severe cases)

Can bone fractures occur without noticeable symptoms. In some cases, particularly in children, small fractures may occur without immediate obvious signs. However, most fractures produce noticeable pain and discomfort.

The Bone Healing Process: Stages and Timeline

The healing of a broken bone is a complex process that occurs in several stages. Understanding these stages can help patients manage their expectations and follow proper recovery protocols.

Stage 1: Inflammation (1-2 weeks)

The healing process begins almost immediately after the fracture occurs. During this stage:

• A blood clot forms around the fracture site
• Swelling occurs as part of the body’s immune response
• Immune cells remove debris and fight potential infections
• New blood vessels form to support the healing process

Stage 2: Soft Callus Formation (4-21 days)

In this stage, the body starts to form a soft callus around the broken bone:

• Collagen gradually replaces the blood clot
• The callus provides some stability but is not as strong as bone
• Immobilization is crucial to prevent disruption of the healing process

Stage 3: Hard Callus Formation (2-6 weeks)

This stage marks the beginning of true bone formation:

• Osteoblasts (bone-forming cells) create new bone tissue
• Minerals are added to strengthen the callus
• The broken pieces of bone are bridged

Stage 4: Bone Remodeling (up to 9 years)

The final stage of healing involves fine-tuning the healed bone:

• Osteoclasts break down excess bone formed during healing
• The bone gradually returns to its original shape and strength
• Normal activities help stimulate proper bone remodeling

How long does it typically take for a bone to heal completely. While the initial healing process usually takes 6-8 weeks, complete bone remodeling can continue for several years, depending on the severity of the fracture and individual factors.

Treatment Options for Bone Fractures

The treatment of bone fractures follows three fundamental principles: alignment, immobilization, and pain management. The specific approach depends on the type and severity of the fracture.

Non-Surgical Treatment

For simple fractures, non-surgical treatment may be sufficient:

• Bone setting: Realigning the broken bone pieces
• Immobilization: Using splints, braces, or casts to prevent movement
• Pain management: Prescription or over-the-counter pain medications

Surgical Intervention

More severe fractures may require surgical treatment:

• Internal fixation: Using screws, pins, rods, or plates to hold bones in place
• External fixation: Applying a frame outside the body to stabilize the bone
• Bone grafting: Adding bone tissue to promote healing in complex fractures

In rare cases, traction may be necessary to align bones properly before further treatment.

How do doctors determine the best treatment approach for a bone fracture. The choice of treatment depends on factors such as the location and type of fracture, the patient’s age and overall health, and the potential for complications. A thorough examination, often including imaging studies, helps guide the decision-making process.

Factors Affecting Bone Fracture Recovery

The healing time and success of bone fracture recovery can vary significantly based on several factors:

• Age: Younger individuals generally heal faster than older adults
• Overall health: Conditions like diabetes or osteoporosis can slow healing
• Nutrition: A balanced diet rich in calcium and vitamin D supports bone health
• Smoking: Tobacco use can significantly impair bone healing
• Physical activity: Appropriate exercise can stimulate bone formation
• Medication use: Certain medications may affect bone metabolism
• Severity of the fracture: Complex breaks typically require longer healing times
• Location of the fracture: Some areas of the body heal faster than others

How can patients optimize their recovery from a bone fracture. Following medical advice, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, avoiding tobacco and excessive alcohol, and participating in recommended physical therapy can all contribute to a faster and more complete recovery.

Complications and Warning Signs During Bone Fracture Healing

While most bone fractures heal without significant issues, complications can occur. Being aware of potential problems and warning signs is crucial for timely intervention.

Common Complications

• Malunion: Improper alignment of the healed bone
• Delayed union: Slower than expected healing
• Nonunion: Failure of the bone to heal completely
• Infection: Particularly in open fractures or after surgery
• Compartment syndrome: Dangerous pressure build-up in muscles
• Avascular necrosis: Loss of blood supply to the bone

Warning Signs to Watch For

Patients should be alert for the following symptoms and seek medical attention if they occur:

• Increased pain or swelling
• Fever or chills
• Redness or warmth around the fracture site
• Numbness or tingling in the affected limb
• Persistent stiffness or inability to move the joint
• Visible deformity or shortening of the limb

When should a patient contact their doctor during the healing process. Any unexpected changes in pain levels, mobility, or appearance of the affected area should prompt a consultation with a healthcare provider to rule out potential complications.

Rehabilitation and Physical Therapy After Bone Fracture

Rehabilitation plays a crucial role in restoring function and strength after a bone fracture. Physical therapy typically begins once the bone has sufficiently healed and immobilization devices are removed.

Goals of Rehabilitation

• Restore range of motion in affected joints
• Strengthen muscles weakened by immobilization
• Improve coordination and balance
• Reduce pain and swelling
• Prevent secondary complications like joint stiffness
• Facilitate return to normal activities and sports

Common Rehabilitation Techniques

Physical therapists employ various methods to aid recovery:

• Gentle stretching exercises
• Progressive resistance training
• Manual therapy techniques
• Ultrasound or electrical stimulation
• Gait training for lower limb fractures
• Proprioception and balance exercises

How long does rehabilitation typically last after a bone fracture. The duration of rehabilitation varies depending on the fracture’s severity and location, but it often continues for several weeks to months after the bone has healed. Some patients may require ongoing exercises at home to fully regain strength and function.

Long-Term Considerations and Prevention of Future Fractures

After recovering from a bone fracture, patients should focus on maintaining bone health and preventing future injuries. This involves a combination of lifestyle changes and proactive measures.

Maintaining Bone Health

• Consume a diet rich in calcium and vitamin D
• Engage in weight-bearing exercises regularly
• Avoid smoking and limit alcohol consumption
• Monitor bone density, especially for those at risk of osteoporosis
• Consider supplements if recommended by a healthcare provider

Preventing Future Fractures

Steps to reduce the risk of future bone fractures include:

• Using proper safety equipment during sports and physical activities
• Maintaining a safe home environment to prevent falls
• Addressing underlying health conditions that may weaken bones
• Following a balanced exercise program to improve strength and balance
• Regular check-ups to monitor bone health and address any concerns

Can individuals who have experienced a bone fracture expect long-term effects. While most fractures heal completely without lasting impact, some patients may experience occasional discomfort or decreased range of motion in the affected area. Regular follow-ups with healthcare providers can help address any lingering issues and ensure optimal long-term outcomes.

Understanding the process of bone fracture healing, following proper treatment protocols, and taking steps to maintain bone health can significantly improve recovery outcomes and reduce the risk of future injuries. By working closely with healthcare providers and adhering to rehabilitation programs, patients can often return to their normal activities and enjoy a full recovery from bone fractures.

Signs Your Broken Bone Is Healing

Medically Reviewed by Carmelita Swiner, MD on February 13, 2023

From the crunch of a sports injury to an accidental fall, people break bones in all kinds of ways — usually from some sort of impact. Bones are strong and even have some give to them, but they have their limits, too. They can even bleed after a serious break. Diseases like cancer and osteoporosis can also lead to breaks because they make your bones weaker and more fragile.

Doctors talk about broken bones, also called fractures, with a few basic terms:

• Open or closed? Closed, or simple, fractures don’t break through the skin. Open, or compound, ones do.
• Partial or complete? Partial breaks don’t go all the way through the bone. Complete breaks mean the bone is in two or more pieces.
• Displaced or non-displaced? If the broken pieces still line up, it’s a non-displaced break. If they don’t, it’s displaced.

Common types of breaks include:

• Transverse: breaks straight across the bone
• Stress fracture: a very thin crack, also called a hairline fracture
• Oblique: breaks at an angle
• Greenstick: breaks on one side, but bends on the other–like a fresh stick from a tree
• Comminuted: bone breaks into three or more pieces

Other types include compression fractures, which often happen in the spine, spiral fractures, and avulsion fractures, when a tendon or ligament pulls off a piece of bone.

Sometimes, kids get small fractures and don’t even know it. Other times, your body may be in shock so you don’t feel anything at all–at first. But usually a broken bone means a deep, intense ache. And depending on the break, you may feel sharp pain, too.

Aside from pain, your body sets off all kinds of alarms to tell you something’s really wrong. You might feel chilly, dizzy, or woozy. You might even pass out.  Around the break itself, you might notice:

• Bruising
• Stiffness
• Swelling
• Warmth
• Weakness

You may also have trouble using that body part or see that the bone doesn’t look right — like it’s bent at an odd angle.

Bone repair begins within just a few hours of the injury. You get a healthy swelling around the break as a blood clot starts to form. Your immune system sends in cells that act like trash collectors — they get rid of small bone pieces and kill any germs. Also, you grow blood vessels into the area to help the healing process. This step may last a week or two.

Over the next 4-21 days, you get a soft callus around the broken bone. This is when a substance called collagen moves in and slowly replaces the blood clot. The callus is stiffer than a clot, but not as strong as bone. That’s part of the reason you get a cast — it holds the healing bone in place. If it moved, the soft callus could break and set back your recovery.

About 2 weeks after the break, cells called osteoblasts move in and get to work. They form new bone, adding minerals to the mix to make the bone hard and strong as it bridges the broken pieces. This stage is called the hard callus. It usually ends 6-12 weeks after the break.

Now you’re in the homestretch: bone remodeling. Here, cells called osteoclasts do some fine-tuning. They break down any extra bone that formed during healing so your bones get back to their regular shape. When you reach this stage, returning to your normal activities actually helps you heal. This step may continue long after you feel better, sometimes lasting up to 9 years.

Treatment for any break comes down to three basic steps:

• Get the bone lined up in the right place.
• Keep it from moving until it’s healed.
• Manage the pain.

For a basic break, your doctor may have to set the bone back in place. Then, you’ll probably get a splint, brace, or cast to support your bone and keep you from moving it. Your doctor may also give you medicine for the pain.

For more severe breaks, you may need surgery. Doctors might put in screws, pins, rods, or plates to hold bones in place so they can heal correctly. Those parts may stay in place after you’ve healed, or in some cases, your doctor will take them out.  

In rare cases, you may need traction, a system of pulleys and weights around your hospital bed that hold your bones in the right position.

An average recovery takes 6-8 weeks but can vary based on the bone, type of break, your age, and your overall health. During the first couple of weeks, you’ll need patience and good old-fashioned self-care. This is where you set the stage for healing. Follow your doctor’s instructions closely and:

• Don’t smoke.
• Do any exercises your doctor recommends.
• Eat a healthy diet.
• Rest the broken bone as much as possible.

Your cast is critical for healing, but after just a few weeks without movement, your muscles start to get weak and stiff. This is often the time when you start some very basic exercises or early physical therapy. It helps ease stiffness, build muscle, and break down scar tissue. You also get your head around moving this part of your body that’s been in pain for a while.

This is often when the cast comes off. Your skin and hair have been in the dark under there and your muscles will be weak, so you may notice:

• Body hair that’s darker than usual
• Skin that’s pale or flaky
• The body part you broke looks smaller — it has less muscle

You’ll get back to normal with time, and you may need more physical therapy. As you start your regular activities, check with your doctor to see if you have any limits on what you can do.

As you heal, keep any eye out for signs of any problems. Call your doctor if you notice problems like:

• Bluish color to your skin
• Can’t move your fingers or toes
• Pain doesn’t get better
• Problems with your cast, like it cracks or feels too tight or too loose 
• Signs of infection, such as redness, swelling, or discharge that smells bad 
• Tingling, numbness, pins and needles, or other odd feelings 

IMAGES PROVIDED BY:

1) Thinkstock

2) Getty

3) WebMD

4) Thinkstock

5) Getty

6) Getty

7) WebMD

8) WebMD

9) WebMD

10) WebMD

11) Thinkstock

12) Getty

13) Getty

14) Getty

15) Getty

16) Thinkstock

Cleveland Clinic: “Fractures. ”

KidsHealth: “The Facts About Broken Bones,” “Broken Bones.”

Victoria State Government, Better Health Channel: “Bone Fractures.”

American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, OrthInfo: “Fractures (Broken Bones).”

Arizona State University School of Life Sciences, Ask a Biologist: “Busy Bones.”

Medscape: “Principles of Bone Healing.”

American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons, Foot Health Facts: “Bone Healing.”

Osteoporosis Canada: “After the Fracture: Information About Pain and Practical Tips for Movement.”

NHS: “Broken Arm or Wrist.”

American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons: “Internal Fixation for Fractures.”

© 2023 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved. View privacy policy and trust info

What Does it Feel Like to Break a Bone?

Bone fractures, also known as broken bones, affect millions of people across the country every year. From sports injuries to accidental falls, people break bones in a variety of ways. A fracture may also be the result of a medical condition such as osteoporosis and some cancers, which weaken the bones. Although bones are quite strong and resilient to significant amounts of impact, they have their limits too. 

If you are in the Triangle Community in North Carolina, Raleigh Orthopaedic strongly recommends you visit an urgent care location straight away. We have six conveniently located in and around the Raleigh community.

Types of Bone Breaks

There are several different ways in which a bone can fracture which will determine the type of fracture you have. The most common types of bone breaks include: 

• Closed or open fractures: Closed, or simple, fractures do not break through the skin, yet open, or compound, fractures do. 
• Partial fractures: The break doesn’t go all the way through the bone.
• Complete fractures: The break goes completely through the bone, breaking into two pieces. 
• Displaced fractures: The broken pieces of the bone do not stay intact and a gap forms. Surgery is usually required.
• Stress fractures: The bone gets a crack in it, which can sometimes be hard to detect with imaging tools. 

What Happens When a Bone Breaks?

Collagen and calcium phosphate are materials packed together to form a bone and give it strength. They allow our bones to take on a certain amount of weight without any issues. However, when too much force is put on a bone, it can potentially break. The likelihood of a bone fracture is highly dependent on a person’s age and overall health. As we age, our bones lose density, which means there is less collagen and calcium phosphate to support them. Some common symptoms to look out for if you think you’ve broken a bone include:

• Severe pain
• Swelling
• Difficulty using the limb
• Noticeable and abnormal bump, bend or twist

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms or suspect that you’ve broken a bone, contact your healthcare provider immediately or visit one of our urgent care centers at Raleigh Orthopaedic Clinic. You don’t need an appointment – just show up and we will provide you with prompt, comprehensive assistance.

Diagnosing a Broken Bone

In order to diagnose a broken bone, your doctor will first perform a physical examination. If further evaluation is required, you will likely undergo one or more imaging tests. These tests may include:

• X-rays
• Bone scan
• CT scan
• MRI

How to Treat a Broken Bone

Your doctor will most likely use a cast or splint to treat a broken bone. Casts wrap completely around the break with a hard protective cover, while splints only protect one side of the bone. Smaller bones such as fingers and toes don’t require a cast to heal. Both types of support keep the bone immobile and straighten it while the bone grows back together. Surgery may be necessary for some breaks, using stainless-steel screws, plates and fixators, or frames. 

Recovery From a Broken Bone

Recovery time for a broken bone varies from person to person and is highly dependent on the location, type, and severity of the break. On average, it takes about six to eight weeks for a broken bone to fully heal. Also, keep in mind that as you age, you tend to heal more slowly. 

Recovery from a broken bone may require physical therapy. If your doctor prescribes such treatment, several physical therapy locations in the Raleigh area for you to choose from.

Expert Orthopedic Care at Raleigh Orthopaedic Clinic

Your well-being is important to us. Raleigh Orthopaedic is Wake County’s oldest and most experienced orthopedic practice, serving the Triangle and surrounding regions of central North Carolina since 1919. Raleigh Orthopaedic offers online scheduling so click the button below or call us at (919) 781-5600 to schedule an appointment with one of our orthopedic specialists. If your injury or condition is recent, you can walk right into one of our Raleigh Orthopaedic Urgent Care locations for immediate care. For rehabilitation and physical therapy, no referral is needed to see one of our physical therapists.

Bone fractures – health articles

11/10/2022

Fractures of bones are a violation of their integrity. The cause of a fracture may be an external force (impact or heavy load) or some disease that reduces the strength of the bones and makes them brittle. The severity of the fracture depends on its location, size and type.

Causes

Depending on the cause of occurrence, traumatic and pathological fractures are distinguished. The cause of traumatic bone fractures is a sharp, sudden action of mechanical impact force on the bone.

Pathological fractures appear when a certain pathological process acts on the bone tissue. This may be the result of a cyst or the development of a malignant tumor. In this case, the structure of the bone tissue is gradually destroyed and even small loads can lead to a fracture.

In the second type, the risk of fracture increases several times. It even comes to the point that when walking a person can also break his leg. Here the reason is that this is the pathology of the bone itself, and not the impact on it from the outside.

Symptoms

Fractures of bones have characteristic symptoms that make it possible to identify the pathology when it occurs, which is very important to exclude complications. The following main relative signs of a fracture can be distinguished:

– Pain syndrome: sharp pain when the bone is broken and aching pain in the future, moreover, aggravated by longitudinal load or its imitation.
– Edema: swelling in the affected area develops gradually.
– Hematoma: varying in size on the affected area; in this case, a hematoma with a pulsation indicates continued bleeding.

The absolute sign of a fracture occurs as a result of direct destruction of the bone and indicates the completion of the process. These signs of a fracture are:

– A characteristic crunch (crepitus): occurs when the bone tissue is ruptured, later heard with a phonendoscope due to friction of the fragments.
– Unnatural direction of a limb or other bone.
– Increased mobility with joint rupture.
– Bone fragments are visually visible in an open fracture.
– Shortening of the limb when the fragments are displaced, protrusion of a broken bone.

Some features of a non-displaced or incomplete fracture may not appear, making diagnosis difficult. The symptoms of a fracture are unambiguously determined by radiography – localization, type and degree of destruction are recorded.

Diagnosis

In the majority of closed fractures, X-ray diagnostics plays a leading role. This study is necessary not only to confirm the diagnosis of a fracture and its documentation. It is very important for the traumatologist, on the basis of radiographs, to get an idea of ​​the nature of the displacement of fragments, the direction of the fracture lines and the presence of additional cracks, indicating splitting of the fragment. This information is needed to determine the treatment tactics, the choice of the type of osteosynthesis.

X-ray examination is also important in the course of treatment. It determines the completeness of the reposition, the correct position of the fixing structure, the absence of secondary displacement (by the subsidence of edema), the appearance and formation of callus. The surgeon and traumatologist must follow the rules for performing radiographs for fractures.

Treatment

The main objectives of treating a patient with a fracture are to save his life and preserve the limb, restore the integrity of the bone and the anatomical shape of the joint, the function of the injured limb and the victim’s ability to work.

First aid is aimed at preventing the displacement of bone fragments, damage to soft tissues, infection of the wound, the development of traumatic shock and massive blood loss. Necessary actions: immobilize the damaged part of the skeleton, using a splint that captures the joints above and below the injury site. Stop bleeding with a tourniquet and apply a sterile bandage to the wound. Give an anesthetic: analgin or promedol. Take the victim to the emergency room.

In case of multiple fractures and injuries of the spine, it is not recommended to move the patient until the ambulance arrives.

Conservative treatment consists of immobilization, the use of plaster casts after closed reduction of the fracture or without it (if there is no displacement). The limb during the application of gypsum must be in a physiologically correct position. Its distal parts (for example, fingers in case of a fracture of a limb) should be open to be able to determine edema and prevent tissue trophic disturbance. Sometimes a fracture requires traction – the use of skeletal, cuff, adhesive or adhesive traction. This method helps to neutralize the action of muscle layers that are attached to bone fragments, prevent their displacement and create conditions for bone tissue regeneration. Skeletal traction gives the greatest effect. A weight attached to a pin, which is passed through the bone, ensures that the bone fragments are maintained in a position that is optimal for tissue repair. The disadvantage is the forced immobilization of the patient, leading to a deterioration in his general condition.

For cracks in long bones and fractures of small bones, functional methods are used. They suggest the absence of immobilization or minimal immobilization of the damaged area and come down to providing it with rest.

Surgical treatment is necessary for fractures of the jaw (installation of an external fixation device), restoration of spongy bones (cranial vault), excessive formation of callus, etc.

In the postoperative period, the fracture site is immobilized. Recovery time is from several weeks to several months. If bone recovery does not occur, and a false joint is formed (persistent abnormal mobility at the fracture site), endoprosthetics methods are used (replacement of elements of the musculoskeletal system with implants). After removing the plaster, they begin rehabilitation therapy.

This is, first of all, a massage. It is prescribed for 10-45 days after the fracture. It accelerates the formation of callus, improves blood circulation and tissue nutrition, and prevents muscle atrophy.

CPM therapy is the passive development of the joints (without the involvement of muscles) using a specially tuned mechanical device.

Therapeutic gymnastics. In the first 10 days, exercises are done for intact joints and limbs. They prevent muscle weakness and joint stiffness.

After the plaster is removed, exercise therapy helps to restore the mobility of damaged joints and muscle strength. It is recommended to increase the load gradually, completing rehabilitation with active gymnastics, which helps to neutralize the consequences of a fracture.

Fractures of bones – articles from the company Elamed

Fracture – complete or partial violation of the integrity of the bone with damage to the surrounding soft tissues. This is a common pathology, accounting for approximately 6-7% of all closed injuries. The most common fractures of the bones of the foot – 23. 5% and bones of the forearm – 11.5% of cases (according to I. L. Krupko). Open fractures in peacetime occur in less than 10% of all fractures.

Classification of fractures

Due to occurrence

1. Traumatic – arising under the influence of a traumatic factor. The structure of the bone and its mechanical strength are usually normal. The strength of the traumatic factor is high.
2. Pathological – arising spontaneously or under the influence of an extremely small force of a traumatic factor (sneezing, changing body position, lifting a light object).
   The reason is a change in the structure of bone tissue and a decrease in the mechanical strength of the bone (osteoporosis, metastases of malignant tumors, bone tuberculosis).

According to the type of displacement of bone fragments

1. Without displacement.
2. Offset:
   • in length;
   • in width;
   • on the periphery;
   • angled;
   • with divergence of fragments;
   • hammered fractures.

In relation to the surrounding skin:

• closed;
• open.

Along the fracture line:

• transverse;
• oblique;
• helical;
• impacted;
• detachable.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis and treatment is carried out by a traumatologist, rarely a surgeon. The main diagnostic method is x-ray in two projections – direct and lateral. For some types of fractures, special projections are used (for example, iliac and obturator with a fracture of the acetabulum). A more informative (and expensive) method is x-ray computed tomography (RCT) , which allows to obtain a 3D volumetric image of the damaged segment. For additional diagnosis of soft tissue damage, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound (ultrasound) , less often – angiography, electroneuromyography are used.

Treatment of bone fractures

Basic principles of fracture treatment – saving the patient’s life, eliminating anatomical disorders that impede the activity of vital organs, restoring the anatomy and function of damaged limbs.

For the treatment of closed fractures, immobilization is used – immobilization of the damaged segment using plaster bandages, plastic splints or rigid orthoses. When the bone fragments are displaced, skeletal traction is applied (long-term comparison of fragments using a weight system). Many fractures require surgery . Its advantages are high-quality comparison and reliable fixation of fragments, the possibility of early activation of the patient, reducing the time spent in the hospital and the period of temporary disability. It includes osteosynthesis – the connection of bone fragments with plates, pins, screws, and arthroplasty – complete or partial replacement of the joint (“gold standard” for fractures of the femoral neck in the elderly).

Medical treatment for is aimed at relieving pain and preventing complications. For pain relief, narcotic drugs are used (only in a hospital – with severe injuries and the threat of developing traumatic shock), non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Among the latter, drugs with predominant analgesic activity are preferable – analgin, ketorol, ketonal. For the prevention of thrombosis (in case of fractures of the bones of the lower extremities, as well as in bedridden patients), anticoagulants (preventing blood clotting) are prescribed – injectable heparin derivatives (heparin, fraxiparin, enoxaparin) and modern tablet drugs – pradaxa, xarelto, as well as antiaggregants (improving blood fluidity ) – aspirin, clopidogrel, trental. With open fractures, prevention of infectious complications is mandatory. For this, antibiotics are used (more often cephalosporins – ceftriaxone, cefotaxime) and antibacterial drugs (ofloxacin, pefloxacin, metronidazole).

Physiotherapy is used in the acute period to reduce traumatic edema and pain, and in the rehabilitation phase – to improve blood circulation in the fracture zone and the maturation of callus.

In the acute period, the most effective magnetotherapy . It can be applied even through a plaster cast, which is not an obstacle to the magnetic field. When the edema is removed, a good analgesic effect occurs, the compression of soft tissues decreases, the likelihood of developing blisters on the skin, which are a contraindication to surgical treatment, decreases.

Cryotherapy is a good addition to the magnetic field, but can only be used on areas free from immobilizing dressings. Local decrease in temperature reduces the sensitivity of pain receptors, constricts blood vessels, reducing swelling.

During the rehabilitation period, the arsenal of physiotherapy methods is more diverse. In addition to the methods described above, ultrasound therapy (phonophoresis) with hydrocortisone ointment is used to relieve pain and soften tissues after immobilization. Electromyostimulation is aimed at restoring the lost muscle volume.

Laser therapy expands the blood vessels above the fracture zone, promoting the maturation of the callus. Shock wave therapy destroys pain points and non-viable cells, promoting tissue regeneration, improves the formation of callus.