About fractures – POLARIS Medical

Fractures are defined as disruptions of bone continuity at a certain level being the result of the direct or indirect action of a traumatic force.

The fracture can occur on a normal structural bone or on a bone weakened by an existing condition, osteoporosis being the most frequently incriminated.

 The main symptom of a fracture is local pain and may be accompanied by functional impotence of the affected segment, deformation of the region in some situations and bruising, ie bruising of the skin at the level of the fracture area.

The definite diagnosis is based on the clinically mentioned elements completed by a radiological examination.

Complications that can occur following a fracture are:

Immediate:

• Skin lesions with or without opening of the fracture site
• Fractures of joint interest
• Joint swelling due to the presence of excess blood or fluid accumulated in the joint
• Interposition of soft parts (muscles, vessels, nerves) between fractured surfaces
• Vascular or nerve damage
• Dislocation association
• Open fracture

Long-term:

• Vicious consolidation
• Delay in consolidation
• nonunion
• Immobilizing osteoporosis
• Redori articular
• Bone infections
• Osteoarthritis (degeneration) of neighboring joints

In the case of the elderly, fractures are one of the main causes of mortality due to morbidity, often leading to prolonged immobilization, deconditioning syndrome, muscle atrophy, respiratory infections, bedsores and septic complications.

The treatment of fractures can be orthopedic or surgical depending on the type of fracture and involves immobilization in a plaster cast of the segment of interest, respectively fixing the fracture site intraoperatively with osteosynthesis materials.

Recovery treatment is as important as orthopedic surgery and should be initiated shortly after the immobilization of the fracture site. The resumption of the normal functionality of the limb segment after a fracture depends primarily on the time of immobilization in the cast and the moment of resumption of joint mobilization, prolonged immobilization (over 6 weeks) leading to joint stiffness that can sometimes become irreversible.

Recovery treatment aims to maintain or increase muscle tone, maintain and / or improve joint mobility and resume full functionality of the limb or segment concerned.

An effective recovery treatment ensures complete resumption of joint mobility, prevents joint stiffness, muscle atrophy, immobilizing osteoporosis and long-term complications, especially in the elderly.

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