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What are Fractures & Dislocations?
What are Fractures & Dislocations?
An adult human has around 206 bones in the body. Any severe trauma, falls, sports injury and accidents can lead to partial or complete break in the continuity of any bone in the body leading to fracture. A fracture is defined as a break in the continuity of bone. A fractured bone may cause pain, swelling, bruising, and deformity. Some of the most common fractures are wrist fractures, hip fractures, ankle fractures, and collarbone fractures. Dislocation is also a condition related to the bones, where the bones in the joints are pushed out of their usual place. Dislocation is caused by fall, accident, sports injury and more. Most common symptoms of dislocations include pain, swelling, bruising, the joint looking out of place, etc. Shoulder dislocation, finger dislocation, elbow dislocation, knee dislocation, hip dislocation, and jaw dislocation are some of the most common dislocations.
Common Causes of Fracture
- Injury/Trauma: The most common cause of fracture is sudden impact from falls, car accidents, or direct blows.
- Overuse or Repetitive Stress: Another common cause of bone fracture is repetitive stress on a bone, especially in athletes resulting in stress fracture.
- Osteoporosis: Osteoporosis is a condition that weakens the bones, making them more prone to fractures. It is caused when the bone mineral density and bone mass decrease.
- Bone Diseases: Conditions affecting the bone like osteogenesis imperfecta, and bone cancer weaken the bone structure increasing the risk of fracture.
Common Causes of Dislocation
- Trauma: Trauma is the most common cause leading to dislocation, a direct force from fall, accident or sports injury can result in dislocation.
- Repetitive Strain: Overuse of specific joints through repetitive movements like playing tennis or swimming, can loosen the joint over time, increasing the risk of dislocation.
- Falls: Falling directly on a joint can cause the joint to pop out of place, especially the shoulder and hip joints.
- Improper Lifting: Lifting heavy objects incorrectly or suddenly can put excessive stress on the joints causing dislocation.
Difference Between Fracture & Dislocation
| Aspect | Fracture | Dislocation |
| Affected Area | Bone Structure | Joint (where 2 bones meet) |
| Definition | A break or crack in the bone | Displacement of bone from its joint |
| Recurrence | Less common | More common |
| Cause | Trauma, falls, osteoporosis | Forceful impact, twisting injuries |
| Common Sites | Arm, leg, wrist, hip, spine | Shoulder, elbow, knee, jaw, finger |
Symptoms of Fracture
- Pain: The primary sign of a fractured bone is a sharp pain in the affected area that worsens with movements.
- Swelling: Another common sign of fracture is swelling of the affected area due to inflammation or internal bleeding.
- Discolouration: The fractured bone may cause the surrounding area to turn blue, purple, or yellow due to bleeding under the skin.
- Limited Movement: Another common sign of fracture is difficulty in moving the affected area and inability to bear weight.
- Tenderness: The area surrounding the fractured bone may feel sore or painful to touch.
Symptoms of Dislocation
- Intense Pain: The most common sign of dislocation is severe pain at the affected joint particularly during movements.
- Visible Deformity: The affected joint may appear visibly deformed or out of place, misshapen, or unusually positioned.
- Swelling: Swelling is also among the primary signs of dislocation. The area surrounding the joint swells quickly after the injury.
- Bruising/Redness: The skin around the dislocated joint may appear discoloured due to internal bleeding or inflammation.
- Numbness or Tingling: The dislocated joint may compress the nearby nerves resulting in pins and needles or loss of sensation.
Treatment Options for Fracture
Treatment of fracture depends on the type of fracture, what caused the fracture, and how damaged the bones are. Some of the common treatment options include:- Immobilisation: The first line treatment of fractured bone is immobilisation through the use of splints, casts, and braces to keep the broken bone still, promoting healing and avoiding further injury.
- Closed Reduction: Treatment option involving realigning the bone for more severe fractures. Closed reduction procedures are done using local anaesthesia.
- Bone Fracture Surgery: Certain cases might require surgery to realign the bone fragments with screws, plates, or rods. Types of bone fracture surgery involve internal fixation, external fixation, arthroplasty, and bone grafting.
Treatment Options for Dislocation
- Immobilisation: Immobilisation is the first step treatment of dislocated joints. Using a splint, sling, or brace keeps the joint in place while it heals and prevents further injury.
- Repositioning: Repositioning involves manipulating the joint back into its normal position. The procedure is done under local anaesthesia or sedatives.
- Dislocation Surgery: An invasive procedure to treat severe fractures or recurrent dislocations.
Recovery Timeline for Fractures & Dislocations
The recovery from bone fracture varies depending upon the type of bone, severity of fracture, and individual factors like age and overall health. For most bones in the body recovery time varies between 6 to 8 weeks while recovery for larger and heavier bones may take up to 20 weeks or 5 months.Recovery from minor joint dislocation like dislocated finger may take around a few weeks to recover while major dislocation like dislocated shoulder might take several months to completely recover.
Prevention Tips from Fractures
| Prevention Tips | Description |
| Maintain Bone Health | Add calcium and vitamin D in your diet for stronger bones. |
| Prevent Falls | Use non-slip mats, handrails & avoid high-risk activities. |
| Use Protective Gears | Wear helmets, wrist guards, etc during sports & activities. |
| Strengthen Muscles & Joints | Do strength training & physiotherapy to stabilise bones. |
| Bone Density Screening | Opt for regular screening to detect issues early. |
Prevention Tips from Dislocations
| Prevention Tips | Description |
| Strengthen Muscles Around Joints | Regular exercise improves joint stability & reduces injury risk. |
| Warm-up Before Activity | Warm-up before activities prepares muscles & joints. |
| Avoid High-impact Movement | Refrain from sudden or extreme joint movements. |
| Practice Proper Techniques | Use correct form during lifting, exercises, or physical work. |
| Avoid Overuse of Joints | Take breaks between repetitive activities to avoid joint fatigue. |
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