Fractures/ broken bones are quite common in adults and children. The human body consists of 206 rigid bones; some are large and long, while others are small. Our bones provide the framework for all our tissues and organs that are held within our skin. They give us the ability to run, walk and perform limitless motions and activities.
Bone is a living organ that is necessary for life, and you might not know it, but it continually rebuilds itself in a healthy human being. They can be kept healthy by a good diet and exercise, lack both, and you may suffer from diseases. While bones are healthy, they do possess a certain amount of ‘give’; applying too much force on them or bending them more than their capacity will result in you breaking a bone, or in other words, a ‘fracture.’
Luckily, bone fractures can be treated. With the help of an experienced doctor, like Dr. David Slattery, your bone will be as good as new.
Fractures can occur as a result of injury or trauma and can occur in patients of all ages who may have experienced accidents.
Types of bone fractures
Bone fractures can fall into numerous classifications; these include:
- Stable fracture, these include hairline fractures. Here, the broken bone ends line up cleanly and aren’t entirely out of place.
- An open or compound fracture is the one where a wound accompanies the broken bone. The bone may or may not stick out of the wound.
- Oblique fractures are those that occur at an angle rather than horizontal across the bone
- In a comminuted fracture, the bone shatters or fragments
Depending on the type of fracture and your specific situation, treatment may require limiting the motion of the joint until it can heal, or in some cases, surgery may also be required. Some fractures are treated with the use of plates, screws, or other stabilizing devices that hold the bone in place until it heals.
Bone fractures in children
Bone fractures are quite common in children, and Dr. David Slattery has a lot of experience treating them. As children are still growing, they have different anatomy and need special attention and treatment.
Children’s bones and injuries are quite different from adults’. They have ‘growth plates,’ which can have a lasting impact if not properly treated.
However, the bones of kids are also covered in a thick layer of ‘periosteum,’ which helps in healing the fracture. This is why; children recover much faster than adults after a fracture.
For the bone to heal correctly, you might want to go to a doctor with expertise and years of familiarity in the field. Dr. David Slattery has a lot of knowledge in child fractures, and thanks to him, the treatment should be smooth, without any hardships or worries.
A majority of children don’t need any surgery, and they might need boots, braces/splints, or casts. However, sometimes, surgery might be required to help in realigning the bones and joints to allow adequate healing.
