Possible causes of a fracture

A bone fracture, called fracture in medicine, is the interruption of a bone. There are several different types, classifications, treatment methods and causes. In most cases, the cause is an external violent impact, which can also be a fall or a compression, or the bone is heavily preloaded and a spontaneous or stress fracture occurs.

A lack of bone mass, as in osteoporosis, can also lead to a fracture/bone fracture. In the case of bone fracture, the bone may simply break, resulting in two fracture parts or a multiple or comminuted fracture. The more fracture parts are formed and the further apart they are, the more complicated the restoration and healing process is. Typical symptoms of a bone fracture are an abnormal shape, severe pain, swelling and restricted movement.

Open fracture

In the case of an open fracture, a fracture part protrudes from the skin. Complications of a fracture can include nerves, vessels, soft tissue or joint structures. During healing, the risk of so-called pseudoarthrosis can occur.

This means that the gap does not grow together properly and a false joint forms, which can affect the stability of the bone. Injury to nerves can cause loss or impairment in the sensation of body parts (sensitive) or in the execution of movement (motor), since the transmission of stimuli is interrupted or impeded. Like everything in the body, nerves have the ability to grow and heal again, but this is a very slow and stressful process for the patient.

If vessels are also injured and the blood flow interrupted, there is a risk that cells are no longer supplied with nutrients and die. Vessels and nerves can also be damaged by a plaster cast that is too tight during treatment. A sensitive and motoric test must therefore be performed repeatedly during the healing process.Particularly in the case of an open fracture, there is also a great risk of infection, i.e. that bacteria from outside penetrate the wound and the body.