Signs of a Fracture

Breaking bones is a part of life that you can’t always avoid. Falls, contact sports and car crashes are just a few ways Minneapolis residents wind up with a break. Knowing the signs of a fracture helps you get proper care and find relief as soon as possible.

The Most Obvious Signs of a Fracture

Sometimes, a broken bone is easy to spot. You don’t need an X-ray to diagnose the problem, because the break is so severe it can be recognized with the naked eye.

In these cases, signs of a fracture include:

• Bone poking through the skin
• Injured limb is deformed or out of place
• Intense pain focused on the injured limb
• Snapping sound heard during traumatic injury
• Swelling or tenderness develops near the injury
• Wound is large enough to see fractured bone

Less Obvious Symptoms

Some signs of a fracture are more subtle, particularly when the break is less severe. With these fractures, you may not realize you need care immediately. In fact, the broken bone may go undetected initially. You may even continue with activities of daily living.

However, untreated fractures increase the risk for bone health problems, such as deformity and additional fractures in the future. You may also experience mobility problems.

Detecting and treating fractures quickly makes it more likely that you’ll recover promptly and fully.

One sign you’re dealing with a broken bone is when symptoms stick around for more than a day or two. These symptoms include:

• Difficulty moving or using the affected limb
• Localized pain in the injured area, or the area hurts when touched
• Pain that doesn’t improve or even worsens as time passes
• Tingling or numbness in the affected limb

Break a rib, and you may feel pain when breathing or coughing. You may notice young children who can’t speak well avoiding weight-bearing activities with the injured limb.

Types of Fracture

All fractures cause you to feel pain, but some types of fracture cause more pain or other problems.

Fracture types include:

• Compound fracture. Also called an open fracture, compound fractures involve an open wound. The wound may be caused by the bone or external trauma. You may be able to see the broken bone if the wound is large enough or the bone pushes out of the skin.
• Stable fracture. Despite being broken in two pieces, the bone remains aligned
• Stress fracture. A small bone crack that occurs when your body can’t rebuild bone fast enough to keep up with your needs. Before a stress fracture develops, you may notice swelling or bruising in the area.

Young children may also experience fractures at their growth plates. These plates are found at the end of specific bones and allow bones to reach their full length. A broken growth plate can result in deformity or unequal limb length.

Caring for Someone With a Fracture

No matter what type of fracture you experience, proper care reduces your risk for long-term issues. If you or someone you love experiences signs of a fracture, do the following:

• Ensure overall health. Make sure the injured person is breathing. If not, perform CPR and call 911 immediately. For a severe fracture, encourage the injured person to remain still and calm. Look for other injuries that may require attention.
• Protect open wounds. Open fractures can become infected. Cover the open wound—preferably with sterile dressings—to reduce the risk of infection.
• Reduce swelling. Broken bones can result in substantial swelling. Limit swelling by elevating and applying ice to the injured body part.
• Stay still. Call 911 in the event of a broken hip, upper leg, pelvis or back. While waiting for the ambulance, prevent the injured person from moving the broken area. No matter what bone is broken, don’t try to reset it if you aren’t a trained medical professional.

Once diagnosed with a broken bone, medical care may include:

• Casting. A cast protects and stabilizes the bone while healing.
• External fixation. Pins or screws pass through a metal bar outside the skin and hold the bone in place to ensure the bone heals in a straight line.
• Internal fixation. Screws go through a metal plate placed under the skin against the bone. The screws keep the bone in place during the healing process.

When Fractured Bones Are Medical Emergencies

Though all fractures need medical attention, some require emergency care. Call 911
immediately in the following circumstances:

• Broken bone pushes through the skin
• Fracture occurs in the neck, head, back, pelvis, upper leg or hip
• Injured person loses consciousness
• Severe bleeding accompanies the broken bone
• Skin below the injured area is blue, pale, cold or clammy

If you notice signs of a fracture, seek medical attention as soon as possible. Even if it’s a sprain or other minor injury, proper treatment helps to speed the healing process.