At Shoreline Orthopaedics, our orthopaedic surgeons use a truly collaborative approach so our patients have the benefit of multiple expert opinions, without having to go elsewhere to obtain them.
Shoreline Orthopaedics provides more comprehensive services, state-of-the-art options, technologies and techniques than anyone else in the area.
The following information is provided to help you understand what you can expect from us regarding policies and procedures, and also what is expected of you before and after treatment or procedures.
The following information is provided to help you gain a better understanding of anatomy, terminology, certain orthopaedic procedures, and more. If you have any questions, feel free to ask your physician.
A fracture is a broken bone. Although bones are rigid, they do bend with limited flexibility when outside force is applied. When that force is too great, the bone will fracture. Common causes of fractures include: trauma, such as an automobile or sports-related accident; osteoporosis, which can weaken the bone; or overuse caused by repetitive motion that can tire muscles and place excess force on the bone, resulting in stress fractures like those most often seen in athletes.
A bone may fracture completely, partially, crosswise, lengthwise, in multiple pieces, or in a variety of other ways. Common types of fractures include:
In addition to extreme pain which may make motion of the injured area difficult or impossible, other common symptoms include: swelling and tenderness around the injury; bruising; or a deformed appearance, such as the limb looking "out of place," or bone that has punctured through the skin.
Your doctor will assess the extent of your injury by performing a careful and thorough examination that most commonly includes an X-ray. By providing clear images of the bone, an X-ray will enable your doctor to see if the bone is fractured and if so, diagnose what type of fracture has occured and what treatment is required.
In a process called "reduction," the parts of broken bone must be restored to their original position and held in place until healed. Depending on the severity of the fracture, surgery may be required. Fracture treatments include:
Soon after a fracture occurs, the body responds by forming a protective blood clot and callus around the fracture. New bone cells on both sides of the fracture line begin growing toward each other, healing the fracture by "knitting" the bone back together with new bone that forms around the broken edges. As the fracture closes, the callus is absorbed. This healing process may require several weeks to several months, depending on the injury and how well you follow your doctor's advice. Pain usually stops long before the fracture is healed enough to handle the stresses of normal activity so you may need to continue limiting movement, even after the cast or brace is removed. During recovery, loss of muscle strength in the injured area is common. Specific exercises will be recommended to help you restore normal muscle strength, joint motion, and flexibility.
A diet rich in calcium and Vitamin D and weight-bearing exercise can improve bone strength, which may help to prevent some fractures.
VIDEO: Ankle Injuries with Kirk Cousins & Dr. Bruce Stewart, Holland Hospital Sports Medicine