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Fractures. FRACTURES Causes – Trauma – blow to body, fall Pathologic – if
a bone is weakened, fracture may be pathologic, consisting ...
... Osteoporosis is responsible for 1.5 million fractures annually, including: -more
than 300,000 hip fractures -500,000 vertebral fractures -200,000 wrist ...
... a disease of the skeleton in which the amount of calcium present slowly decreases
to the point where the bones become extremely brittle and subject to fractures ...
... In fact, the annual number of osteoporoatic fractures in women is greater than the
number of heart attacks, strokes and cases of breast cancer combined. ...
... 2004). This disease deteriorates bone tissue making the bones very delicate
and not sturdy which can lead to the risk of fractures. ...
Submitted by fdelarosa on May 5, 2005
Category: Science
Words: 2594 | Pages: 11
Views: 308
Popularity Rank: 36,524
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FRACTURES
Causes –
Trauma – blow to body, fall
Pathologic – if a bone is weakened, fracture may be pathologic, consisting of a collapse of the bone – osteoporosis, bone cancer
Stress – if there is usual or repetitive force on a bone because of excessive muscle usage or strain, a stress fracture may occur – seen in athletes
Prevention:
Accident prevention – hand rails, no throw rugs, obstacles on floor, education concerning automobile safety, protective sports equipment
Avoid osteoporosis – small framed, non-obese, white females most at risk; contributing factors – diet low in calcium throughout life, smoking, excessive coffee intake, high protein diet, sedentary life style
Types of fractures:
Complete – complete separation of the bone, two fragments
Incomplete – only part of the bone is broken; not broken into two fragments
Simple – skin over break is intact
Compound or open – communication between skin wound and fracture site; high risk of contamination and infection
Fracture without displacement – bone ends in good alignment
Fracture with displacement – bone segments separated at the point of fracture
Greenstick – splintering on one side of the bone (young children)
Transverse – break straight across the bone
Oblique – line of fracture angled across bone
Spiral – fracture line partially encircling the bone
Telescoped or impacted – bone ends jammed together
Comminuted – several bone fragments
Healing of Fractures –
Immobilization is necessary for healing
Bone heals during a process called callus formation, in which new blood vessels are formed, dead bone is reabsorbed, new bone matrix is laid down and becomes filled with calcium; this area of healing, the new bone is called the callus.
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