A child’s soft bones may not break when dealt a significant blow, causing the bone to bend.
Have adequate lighting and place nightlights in the bathroom or other rooms you may have to access in the middle of the night.Make sure that wires, cords, and other hazards are out of the way to prevent tripping.There are also some things you can do to prevent falls and reduce your risk for bone fractures: Check with your doctor about an appropriate exercise program for you. This is because hormonal changes decrease bone strength, which can lead to osteoporosis and increased risk for fractures.Īt any age, daily weight-bearing exercises, such as walking, are necessary for bone health. If you are a woman and have gone through menopause, you should increase your calcium to 1,200 milligrams a day. at least 1,000 international units (IU) of vitamin D every day.at least 1,000 milligrams of calcium every day.The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons recommends that both men and women over the age of 40 have: Read more: 5 Fun water exercise that seniors can do together » Your genetic makeup determines your peak bone mass, but diet and exercise make a big difference in keeping your bones healthy as you age. Weak bones break more easily.Īfter age 40, everyone begins to lose bone mass. This means getting enough calcium from your diet and doing weight-bearing exercises to keep your bones strong. Keeping your bones healthy is important at every age. The traction can be created with a system of weights and pulleys that are mounted on a metal frame over your bed. Some limb fractures may need traction, a gentle pulling of the muscles and tendons around the broken bone in order to realign the bone. Hip fractures almost always require surgery to promote faster and better healing.
This may require anesthesia and pain medication. The surgeon may also need to insert the following into your bone to help surgically align the bone: Sometimes surgery will be required to reposition the injured bone. This often requires a local anesthetic and painkillers. The realignment may be done without surgery, and is called closed reduction. The injured bone may have to be realigned into its natural position before it’s immobilized with a cast or splint. They also make it more difficult for you to accidently use the injured bone.įor a small bone like a finger or toe, the fracture can be immobilized by wrapping it with a soft wrap or a splint. These devices can help keep the bone aligned while it heals. Your doctor can immobilize the bone using options that include: Usually a fracture is immobilized to protect the new, soft bone tissue. The new bone is soft at first, and so it needs to be protected. New bone tissue forms at the edges of the break to “knit” the broken pieces together. The treatment for a fracture depends on the type of injury, the location of the injury, and its severity.īones heal themselves by producing new bone tissue to repair the fracture. How will your doctor treat your fracture? This will help your doctor decide whether to check for additional complications, such as a disruption of blood flow. Your doctor will also ask how the injury occurred, when the pain started, and whether the pain has been getting worse. Finally, if nerve damage is suspected, nerve conduction studies can be used to check for any damaged nerves. The dye can make it easier for your doctor to identify damage to blood vessels. Your doctor may also inject a dye into your arteries and then do a scan. This will show more of the detail of the fracture. An MRI can also show the soft tissue area around the bone, and may indicate injuries to surrounding muscles or tendons.Ī computed tomography scan (CT or CAT scan) can be used to provide a three-dimensional image in horizontal or vertical slices of the affected area. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or a bone scan can show more details if the fracture is small. Sometimes other tests besides X-rays may be needed to determine the extent of the fracture and associated damage. Most fractures are diagnosed using an X-ray of the affected bone. Your doctor will examine you and check the area of the injury for mobility, and for possible damage to blood vessels or joints.
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