A fracture or broken bone is an all-too-common injury affecting over 6 million Americans each year. Whether due to a tumble down the stairs or a sports injury, a broken bone needs immediate medical attention to heal properly. The team of orthopedic surgeons at Crescent City Orthopedics is highly trained in diagnosing and treating broken bones. If you've injured an arm, leg, foot, hand, or hip and suspect it's broken, help is close by in Metairie, Louisiana, at Crescent City Orthopedics.
A fracture is a break in the bone, whereas a sprain is a soft tissue injury that occurs when you stretch a tendon or ligament too far. Determining the difference requires an X-ray because both of these injuries cause similar pain. Here are some signs that you might have a fracture, not a sprain:
Only a doctor using an X-ray can determine for certain whether you have a fracture or sprain.
If you suspect that you've suffered a fracture, it's important to stop using the affected limb immediately. Use rest, ice, compression, and elevation (RICE) to treat the injury, and make an appointment with Crescent City Orthopedics.
The only way to diagnose a fracture is with an X-ray. Sometimes X-rays don't show small bones clearly, so the team at Crescent City Orthopedics may use additional scanning techniques to see the bone if the X-ray is inconclusive. Be ready to provide your doctor with a detailed explanation of how you were injured.
At Crescent City Orthopedics, the team of surgeons always chooses conservative treatments first. Many fractures heal with casting or bracing and rest of the affected limb.
Once your doctor sets the bone, they fit you with a brace or cast to keep it still and given instructions for proper rest. However, some fractures require surgery to hold the broken bone in place.
This surgery typically uses pins or screws to set the bone so that it will heal properly. The pins may stay in place permanently, or they may be removed once the bone has healed.
With the care of a skilled, qualified orthopedic surgeon at Crescent City Orthopedics, your fracture should heal nicely. Bone has a great ability to heal itself when properly treated.
However, it's essential that you follow your doctor's guidelines and complete all prescribed physical therapy, which should enable you to regain full use of the affected limb after a fracture. Schedule an appointment with Crescent City Orthopedics for a thorough evaluation and personalized treatment plan.
