Fractures call for specialized care to help the affected bone heal properly. At Oakland Orthopedic in Pontiac, Michigan, Bruce Henderson, MD, offers specialized care for orthopedic fractures of any bone in the body except the skull. If you or a love one suspect you may have a fracture, find out how he can help by calling or scheduling a consultation online today.
Fractures can occur to any bone in your body, including your shoulders, spine, elbows, wrists, fingers, hips, femurs, knees, ankles, and feet. The causes of fractures vary, and not all are the same. Your bone might be partially fractured or fractured into many pieces.
Fractures also run in different directions, such as crosswise or lengthwise. While fractures can be quite painful, they’re also treatable with the right kind of care.
Common types of fractures include:
Whether your fracture is severe or not depends on the amount of force that caused it to break. If there wasn’t much force on your bone, it may have cracked rather than broken all the way through. Fractures that are displaced will often require surgery to restore proper alignment and position.
Fractures happen for all kinds of reasons, ranging from simply falling down, sports injuries to severe trauma, like a serious car accident.
Osteoporosis, a condition that weakens bones, also makes them more likely to fracture, sometimes without trauma. These are called “fragility fractures”.
While pain is a common sign of a fracture, other symptoms may include:
Another sign to watch for is if the bone you may have fractured looks deformed and out of place.
There’s no one-size-fits-all method when it comes to treating a fracture. Instead, Dr. Henderson designs a treatment plan that’s right for your type of fracture and takes into account your overall condition and the extent of your injury.
Dr. Henderson talks to you about your symptoms and medical history, and how the fracture occurred. For example, in cases of simple shoulder fractures, you may benefit from a sling to rest your shoulder, followed by physical therapy to help you regain motion and strength.
Other types of treatment include:
In some cases, you may have an old fracture that hasn’t healed properly and needs to be treated. This is called a nonunion, or a malunion, and Dr. Henderson is experienced in treating difficult problems like such.
If you’ve been searching for high-quality care for your fracture, call or schedule a consultation online today.