Fracture After care

Disclaimer: Instructions are for active patients of Fox West Medical/Dr. Fox.

DESCRIPTION: FRACTURE

This is a break in one of your bones. These breaks are usually "stable" because of the support of the muscles in the region. The initial treatment is often something called a "soft cast", with a regular cast applied at a later time.

ACTIVITY

If you FRACTURED (BROKEN) a bone it is important to avoid any activities that will put unnecessary stress or movements on the body part that this bone is a part of. Bones act to support the rest of the body. In some cases they also protect internal organs, glands and nerves. If you put to much stress on a broken bone, its ability to protect is in jeopardy. You must closely follow your physician's recommendations for activity during the healing process. Your physician has the experience to know how long certain types of broken bones take to heal as well as what important protection functions a bone provides. As a bone heals, your physician will increase your activity, and the amount of stress you put on a bone. When a bone heals, the body puts a CALLUS together across the place that is broken. This callus is made of new bone material, and will eventually melt or glue the two broken pieces together. This process usually takes at least 3 weeks, but can take up to 3 months. Any stress/pressure place on a callus before it hardens, can cause the bone to break again. This process is like giving glue time to harden. If you broke a bone near a joint, your activity/rehabilitation instructions will usually be a little bit different than those given to bones that are broken in the middle. This is because ligaments that hold the joints (spaces between bones) together may also have been injured. Ligaments are a piece of tissue that is like a rubber band, but not as stretchy. LIGAMENTS are string connectors that help hold bones together. They also help hold some parts of muscle to bones. However, the main connection between muscles and bones is the TENDON. A tendon is like a rope, and connects the muscles to the bones. The tendon is the reason the muscle can move a bone. A tendon is like a bunch of ligaments packed tightly together.

TREATMENT

1) Wear splint or cast as instructed by physician

2) Elevate the injured body part above the level of you heart. This will allow fluid that is from inflammation to drain back into the body and will help decrease the pain associated with swelling.

3) Apply Ice packs to the area of injury. Place a wash rag over the injured area to protect the skin from direct ice application. Then place the ice pack over the injured area and secure it with an ace bandage wrap. Leave in place for 15-20 minutes, then remove. Repeat this every 2-3 hours for the first 5 days after your injury.

4) Take any medications given to you by your physician. You may also take Ibuprofen is you don't have ulcers or kidney problems. 

5) Avoid activities or movements that cause prolonged pain to the healing body part. 

6) If you were given crutches, use them until instructed not to. 

7) If you were given an ace bandage, use it during the day. Remove it at night. An ace bandage provides minimal support, and more often is used to provide compression of the swelling that occurs with injured joints. An ace bandage can also help protect when you bump the injured area.

RETURN

You are to return to the Emergency Department or seek immediate medical evaluation if the following occur:

1) Any sudden change or worsening of current symptoms

2) Any sudden increase in pain.

3) Any cyanosis (bluish color) or pale color to the body region that exists past the sight of injury.

4) Any decline in current abilities to move the extremity

5) Any swelling that is sudden or causes severe increase in pain. Including sudden swelling of bruise colored injury sites. 

6) Any sudden numbness that develops

7) Any increase in temperature to the effected body region

8) Any red streaks that develop closer to the body from the site of injury.

9) Any sudden chest pain or difficulty breathing

10.) Your cast gets damaged or breaks.

11.) You have continued severe pain or more swelling than you did before the cast was put on.

12.) You skin or fingernails of a casted arm/hand turn blue or grey.

Disclaimer: Instructions are for active patients of Fox West Medical/Dr. Fox.