injuries and poisoning
Overview of Fractures
Introduction
A fracture is a crack or break in a bone. Most fractures result from force applied to a bone. Fractures usually result from injuries or overuse. The injured part hurts (especially when it is used), is usually swollen, and may be bruised or look distorted, bent, or out of place. Other injuries, such as blood vessel and nerve damage, Compartment Syndrome , infections, and long-lasting joint problems, may also be present or develop. Doctors can sometimes diagnose fractures based on symptoms, the circumstances causing the injury, and results of a physical examination, but x-rays are usually needed. Most fractures heal well and result in few problems, but how long they take to heal varies, depending on many factors, such as the person's age, the type and severity of the injury, and other disorders present. Treatment depends on the type and severity of the fracture and may include pain relievers, PRICE (protection, rest, ice, compression, and elevation), maneuvers or procedures to move the fractured bone fragments back into their normal position (reduction), immobilization of the injured part (for example, with a cast or splint), and sometimes surgery. Bones are part of the musculoskeletal system, which also includes muscles and the tissues that connect them (ligaments, tendons, and other connective tissue, called soft tissues). These structures give the body its form, make it stable, and enable it to move. In addition to fractures, tissues of the musculoskeletal system can be damaged in the following ways: The bones in joints may become completely separated from each other (called Overview of Dislocations ) or only partly out of position (called Ligaments (which attach bone to bone) can be torn (sprained). Muscles can be torn (strained). Tendons (which attach muscle to bone) can be torn (ruptured). Sprains, strains, and ruptured tendons are called Overview of Sprains and Other Soft-Tissue Injuries . Fractures (and other musculoskeletal injuries) vary greatly in severity and in the treatment needed. For example, fractures can range from a small, easily missed crack in a foot bone to a massive, life-threatening break in the pelvis. Fractures can break the skin (called open fractures) or not (called closed fractures). An injury that breaks a bone may also seriously damage other tissues, including the skin, nerves, blood vessels, muscles, and organs. These injuries can complicate treatment of the fracture and/or cause temporary or permanent problems. Most often, the limbs are fractured, but fractures can occur in bones in any body part, such as the following: None None Overview of Eye Injuries None None Compression Fractures of the Spine None 