Broken bones are a medical condition in which bone was broken or cracked. Broken bones can occur because of external factors (like fall) or from conditions such as softening of the bones due to osteoporosis, cancer, or other disability.
Types of Fractures
There are various types of fractures. To be more systematic, can be divided based on :
1. Location
Fractures can occur in various places on the bone as in diaphisis, metaphysical, epiphyseal, or intraarticular. if the fracture is obtained in conjunction with dislocation of joints, then it called a fracture dislocation.
2. Size
Divided into complete and incomplete fractures. fractures incomplete is cracked.
3. Configuration
Fractures can be divided into transverse (horizontal), oblique (slanting), or spiral (spiral). if more than one fracture line, then called cominutive.
4. The relationship between the fractures
Inter-part fractures can still relate (undisplaced) or are far apart (displaced).
5. The relationship between fracture with surrounding tissue
Fractures can be divided into an open fracture (if there is a relationship between bone and the outside world) or fracture closed (if there is no relationship between the fracture with the outside world).
6. Complication
Fractures can occur with accompanying complications, such as nerve disorders, muscle, joints, and etc. or without complications.
There are many common types of the bone fracture, namely as :
1. Closed fractures and open fractures.
Closed fracture is a bone condition broken (or cracked), the broken bones resides in the skin (muscle) while open conditions are broken bones out of the skin (muscle).
2. Simple fracture and multiple fractures.
In simple fracture, broken only in one place and multiple broken bones are in many places.
Simple closed fractures is easier to treated if we compare with open fractures of multiple fractures (especially coupled infection). The handling of every fracture case, either use a pen, gypsum, or other treatments, it will be very dependent on the type and origin of damage to the bone itself.
Broken bones may occur as a result of severe injuries on the body so that the bone be broken down, and cause pain. if we find someone whose get bones broken, we should be careful if you want to help him because his injured will worsen if you give him wrong treatment.
People who get broken fracture should be immediately brought to hospitals, health centers, clinics, doctors, or other health centers to immediately be given intensive treatment. Broken bone can gradually recover.
How to respond :
A. Broken Bones Closed/Closed factures
Closed fractures are fractures where the fracture bones do not hurt / ripped flesh the nearby skin. These fractures can be open if get bleeding wounds.
Treatment :
- Lay down the victims of broken bones and do not move around unnecessarily.
- put a buffer for a broken bone fracture. Broken bones are not getting better by using spalk / splint, cane, wood, broom fibers, mast antenna, etc. The lightweight and strong tied or wrapped in strong but did not make bond or a bandage on the broken part.
B. Broken Bones Open/Open fractures
Open fractures are fractures where the fracture make meat and the skin around the fracture to be torn injured. These fractures should really need to watch out because easy to get infection because of the gaping wound.
Treatment :
- Lay down the victims of broken bones and do not move around unnecessarily.
- if the blood is still flowing, stop the bleeding by pressing and binding the injured part with a clean cloth.
- put a buffer for a broken bone fracture. Broken bones are not getting better by using spalk / splint, cane, wood, broom fibers, mast antenna, etc. The lightweight and strong tied or wrapped in strong but did not make bond or a bandage on the broken or injured .
C. Broken Spine / Spinal fractures
On condition broken backbone or spine, the patient will feel pain in the back or the neck. if so then do not cause much movement on the victim. As the movement not to damage the spinal cord that can cause permanent paralysis. I recommend that you wait for an ambulance or medical personnel with experience to take care of the victims further.
Treatment :
- Do not make a lot of move with the patient, like raising his head, standing, sitting, etc. if not to urgent, you should not moved fractures from its original place and keep the remain position with the head straight up.
- Warm the body of a spine fracture patients with blanket.
- use a carrier with a strong base and hard like a board, table, and etc. Transported at least two people to be stable on the table.
Types of fractures based on the wound :
1. Closed fractures (broken bones simplex).
A broken bone is not visible from the outside.
2. Open bone fracture (compound fracture).
A broken bone looks from the outside because the bone had broken through the skin or the skin has torn. Open fractures more easily infected.
3. Compression fractures (broken bones due to suppression).
Compression fractures is the result of the energy that drives a bone against other bones or a pressing force against the long bone. Common in older women who become brittle due to spinal osteoporosis.
4. fractures due to run over.
A very great power caused some cracks that occurred on a few bone fragments. if blood flow to the affected bone disorder, then the healing will run very slowly.
5. Avulsi fractures.
Avulsi fractures caused by strong muscle contraction, so part of the bone are attached. most often occurs in shoulders and knees, but can also occur on the leg and heel.
6. Pathological fractures.
Occur if a tumor (usually cancer) has grown into the bone and causes bones to become brittle. Brittle bones that can break bones, although with minor injuries or no injuries at all.
Cause
Most fractures are the result of injury, such as car accidents, sports or a fall. fractures occur when a power greater than the bone against bone strength.
The type and severity of fracture are influenced by :
- The direction, speed and strength of the force against the bone
- The age of patients.
- Flexibility of the bone.
- The type of bone.
Fragile bones due to osteoporosis or tumor may become a broken bone.
Clinical Symptoms of Fractures
A fracture can be characterized by:
- Swelling.
- changes in shape, can occur angulation (formed angle), rotation (distorted), or shortening.
- there is pain at the fracture area.
Pain is usually a real symptom. Pain can be very severe and usually increasingly worse, especially if the affected bone is moved. Touching the area around the broken bone can also cause pain.
Tool motion can not function properly, so people can not move her arm, standing on one leg or with her hands clasped.
Blood can leak from a broken bone (sometimes in considerable amounts) and into surrounding tissue or out of the wound due to injury.
Diagnosis
X-rays can usually indicate a broken bone. Sometimes need to do a CT scan or MRI to see more clearly the areas of broken bone. if the patient get more improvement, x-rays are also used to monitor healing.
Treatment
Four main goal of fracture treatment are :
1. To relieve pain.
Pain arising in the fracture is not because the fracture itself, but because the injured tissue around the broken bone. To reduce pain, it can be given pain-killers and also with immobilization techniques (not moving the fracture area.) Immobilization techniques can be achieved by installation of a splint or cast.
- Scan : hard object placed in the area around the bone.
- Installation of gypsum : a strong material that is wrapped around a broken bone
In some fractures, need scan to restrict movement. with this treatment, broken collarbone (especially in children), shoulder bones, ribs, toes and fingers, will recover completely. Other fractures should really not be moved (immobilization).
2. To produce and maintain the ideal position of the fracture.
Splint and cast is not able to maintain position in a long time. it required more technique that is more stable as the installation of continuous traction, external fixation or internal fixation depends on the type of fracture.
- Withdrawal (traction) :
Using a burden to hold a limb in place. it is now rarely used, but once the main treatment for broken femur and pelvis.
- Internal Fixation :
Surgery to place the dish or metal rod on the bone fragments.
3. if bone re-unification occurs
Usually a broken bone will begin to merge within 4 weeks and will blend perfectly within 6 months. but sometimes there is interference in the union of the bone, so that required bone graft. The healing process takes at least 4 weeks, but in the elderly usually require a longer time. After recovery, the bone is usually strong and return to function properly.
4. To restore its original function
Immobilization can lead to a decrease in rigidity of muscles and joints. Thus the mobilization efforts are needed as quickly as possible.
Immobilization can be done through :
- Scan : hard object placed in the area around the bone.
- Installation of gypsum : a strong material that is wrapped around a broken bone
- Withdrawal (traction) : using weights to hold a limb in place. it is now rarely used, but as main treatment for hip fracture.
- Internal Fixation : Surgery to place the dish or metal rod on the bone fragments. is the best treatment for hip fractures and fractures with complications.
Immobilization of the arm or leg causing the muscles become weak and shrinking. therefore, most patients need to undergo physical therapy. Therapy begins at the time of immobilization performed and continued until scan, plaster or traction has been released. In particular fractures (especially hip fracture), to achieve complete healing, patients need to undergo physical therapy for 6-8 weeks or sometimes even longer.
Supplementary Examination
Normally physical examination, a diagnosis of fracture has to be enforced. Imaging studies (such as x-ray) to assist in viewing the type of fracture to assist in the selection of subsequent therapy. things to remember in the x-ray examination is the result should consist of two joints, the two sides, and two bones (right and left). Roentgen is also useful for evaluating the results of the given therapy.
United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently issued a warning to the drugs that used to prevent brittle bones or osteoporosis because it can increase the risk of fractures. The FDA added that all drugs in the bisphosphonate class must add warnings on the labels that these drugs have side effects that are not normal.
For information, bisphosphonates has been given to more than half a million patients in an effort to strengthen bones and reduce fracture risk. In the UK, only a bisphosphonate drug, alendronate, that is suspected include in the warning. nearly three million people in the UK have osteoporosis. This brittle bone condition is also causes 230 thousand people suffer a fracture each year.
Herbal treatment for broken bones
Characteristic of Broken Bones (Eupharbia tirucalli L.) plant is not only composed of leaves and stalks that resemble bones. This plant can grow up with the trunk. despite the cut, these plants can live if placed in the ground. The sap contained in Broken Bones plant proved empirically can treat broken bones.
The content of the sap :
- Euphorbone.
- Taractsasterol.
- Alacttucerol.
- Euphol.
- Rubber substance.
- Bitter substances.
Benefits using Broken Bones plant’s sap :
As the name implies, Broken Bones plant to treat bone fractures. This plant bark finely ground and mixed with oil, then used the sap as ointment in the skin of broken bone (where the broken bone is located). After given the tree sap, the broken bone location need to be wrapped.