Bone Fracture: Symptoms, Causes & Treatment

A bone fracture is a complete or partial break in the bone's integrity, occurring when the force on it exceeds its tolerance. The most common causes of fractures are direct injuries such as falls, accidents, and sports injuries, but they may also result from repeated stress (stress fractures), or from weakness in the bone itself that makes it break easily (as in osteoporosis in older adults, where a fracture may occur from a minor injury).

Fractures come in many forms: they may be hairline (a fine crack without separation), complete (the bone separating into two parts), comminuted (several pieces), closed (the skin intact), or open (the bone piercing the skin, which is more dangerous because of the risk of infection). The most prominent symptoms of a fracture: severe pain that increases with movement or touch, swelling and bruising around the area, sometimes obvious deformity (bending or shortening of the limb), difficulty or inability to move the affected part or bear weight on it, and a cracking sound may be heard at the time of injury. In open fractures the bone or wound is visible.

Proper first aid for a fracture is important before reaching the hospital: the affected limb must be immobilized and not moved or attempted to be reset, a cold compress applied to reduce swelling, the limb raised if possible, and in an open fracture the area covered with clean gauze without heavy pressure. Then the injured person must be transported for urgent medical evaluation. A fracture is diagnosed by X-ray to determine its type and location. Treatment aims to return the bone to its correct position and fix it until it heals, and differs by the type and location of the fracture: simple fractures may need a splint or cast, while complex or displaced fractures need surgery to fix them with plates or screws. This is followed by a period of healing and rehabilitation (physical therapy) to restore movement and strength. The healing of most fractures is good with correct treatment, and treating osteoporosis is important to prevent recurrent fractures in older adults.

• Severe pain that increases with movement or touch.
• Swelling, bruising, and sometimes obvious deformity.
• Difficulty or inability to move the part or bear weight.
• In an open fracture: the bone or wound is visible.

• Direct injuries (falls, accidents, sports injuries).
• Repeated stress (stress fractures).
• Bone weakness (osteoporosis) — a fracture may occur from a minor injury.

• X-ray to determine the type and location of the fracture.
• Sometimes a CT scan for complex fractures.
• Assessing the nerves and vessels around the fracture.

First aid

• Immobilizing the limb and not moving it or resetting the bone, a cold compress, raising the limb, then urgent transport.

Medical treatment

• Simple fractures: a splint or cast.
• Complex or displaced fractures: surgery to fix them with plates or screws.

Rehabilitation

• Physical therapy to restore movement and strength, and treating osteoporosis to prevent recurrence.

This content is educational and does not replace urgent medical evaluation.

• Infection in open fractures.
• Malunion, delayed union, or non-union.
• Affected nerves or vessels, and joint stiffness after prolonged immobilization.

• Preventing falls (especially in older adults) and securing the home.
• Protective gear in sports and seatbelts.
• Treating osteoporosis and adequate calcium and vitamin D.