What is a fracture?

What is a Fracture?  

A fracture is an injury to a bone when the tissue of the bone is broken.  There are many types of fractures.  That's because a fracture is named by the bone involved, the part of the bone, and the description of the break.  A complete fracture is a bone break that completely severs the bone across its width.  When you hear about a complex fracture, that means that the soft tissue around the bone is extremely damaged.  A fragmented fracture is fun, if you like puzzles.  A fragment fracture results in many broken bone pieces.  When the end of a broken bone tears through the skin, we have what you call a compound or open fracture.  When a simple fracture occurs, the bone does not break the skin.  Then we have the multiple fracture.  A multiple fracture refers to a break in which there are several fracture lines in the bone.  A multiple fracture may also mean, a fracture of several bones at one time or from the same injury. 

Causes of fractures of healthy bones include incidents such as sporting injuries, vehicle accidents and falls. Overuse, is also a common cause of fracture. Repetitive motion can tire muscles and place more force on bone. This can result in stress fractures. Stress fractures are more common in athletes. As we get older, our bones usually become more brittle. Osteoporosis and some types of cancer can also cause the bones to fracture more easily.

Types of Fractures:

• Closed (simple) fracture – the skin remains intact and there is little damage to surrounding tissue.

• Open (compound) fracture – the broken bone protrudes through the skin or there is a wound that leads to the fracture site.

• Complicated fracture – in addition to the fracture, there is injury to the surrounding structures. There may be damage to the veins, arteries or nerves and there may also be injury to the lining of the bone (the periosteum).

Doctors use a variety of treatments to treat fractures:

•  Functional Cast or Brace: The cast or brace allows limited or "controlled" movement of nearby joints. This treatment is desirable for some, but not all, fractures.

• Traction: Traction is usually used to align a bone or bones by a gentle, steady pulling action.

• External Fixation:  In this type of operation, metal pins or screws are placed into the broken bone above and below the fracture site. The pins or screws are connected to a metal bar outside the skin. This device is a stabilizing frame that holds the bones in the proper position while they heal.

• Cast Immobilization:  A plaster or fiberglass cast is the most common type of fracture treatment, because most broken bones can heal successfully once they have been re-positioned and a cast has been applied to keep the broken ends in proper position while they heal.

Overuse Injuries in Children

Overuse Injuries in Children

In recent years, doctors have begun to see a significant increase in overuse injuries in children. In most cases, these injuries are associated with sports-related activity.

Sports participation promotes the physical and emotional well being of children, and also encourages the lifelong habit of exercise. Although the benefits of athletic activity are significant, too much activity can lead to injury.

Overuse injuries occur gradually over time, when an athletic activity is repeated so often, areas of the body do not have enough time to heal between playing. For example, overhand pitching in baseball can be associated with injuries to the elbow, and swimming is often associated with injuries to the shoulder.

Because young athletes are still growing, they are at a greater risk for injury than adults. The consequences of overdoing a sport can include injuries that impair growth, and may lead to long-term health problems.

When a young athlete repeatedly complains of pain, a period of rest from the sport is necessary. If pain persists, it is important to seek proper medical treatment. To ensure the best possible recovery, athletes, coaches, and parents must follow safe guidelines for returning to the game.

Overuse injuries occur in a wide range of sports, from baseball and basketball to track, soccer, and gymnastics. Some of these injuries are unique to a certain sport, such as throwing injuries of the elbow and shoulder that are prevalent in baseball players. The most common overuse injuries involve the knee and foot.

Overuse injuries can affect muscles, ligaments, tendons, bones, and growth plates. In children, these structures are still growing, and the growth is generally uneven. Bones grow first, which pulls at tight muscles and tendons. This uneven growth pattern makes younger athletes more susceptible to muscle, tendon, and growth plate injuries.

Symptoms

Coaches and parents should be aware of the more common signs of overuse injury. These include:

• Pain. This pain cannot be tied to an acute injury, such as from a fall. The pain often increases with activity
• Swelling
• Changes in form or technique
• Decreased interest in practice

Common Overuse Injuries in Children

·         Sever’s Disease (Sever's disease is one of most common causes of heel pain in children)

·         Osgood-Schlatter Disease (children have pain at the front of the knee due to inflammation of the growth plate at the upper end of the tibia (shinbone))

·         Jumpers Knee

·         Throwing Injuries in the Elbow

·         Stress Fractures

·         Stress Reaction of Growth Plates (Physis)

·         Strains & Sprains

Prevention

Many overuse injuries in children can be prevented. Key to prevention is to avoid overdoing any single sport, and to give growing bodies adequate rest between practices or games.

• Limit the number of teams in which your child is playing in one season. Kids who play on more than one team are especially at risk for overuse injuries.
• Do not allow your child to play one sport year round — taking regular breaks and playing other sports is essential to skill development and injury prevention.