Broken Bone

Breaking or fracturing a hip is a common injury in the geriatric population, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Due to loss of bone density and diseases such as...

The sternum, also called the breastbone, is a bone that connects the ribs in front of the heart. Broken sternums are painful and slow to heal, with bed rest and anti-inflammatory medication being...

Straightening a broken nose is a type of fracture reduction, performed in a closed manner with instruments to grasp and manipulate the bones back into place through the skin, or in an open surgery...

Crutches are a walking aide made of wood or metal. This type of assistive device requires upper arm strength, coordination and balance. Crutches that are too tall or too short can affect your...

Spinal compression fracture is the term used to describe breaks in the bones of the back (vertebrae) caused by abnormal weakness of the bone structure. Common sources of this type of fracture...

When a person injures his arm, orthopedic doctors require the patient to wear a sling immobilizer. This is to prevent the injured arm from being stressed due to unnecessary movement and to avoid...

Although walking on an Aircast seems self-explanatory, some might find using the brace a bit challenging if they have never used one before. Aircasts allow more mobility than a standard plaster...

For a person in top shape, a broken ankle is a big setback. Broken ankles require wearing a cast for about six weeks to heal properly. Since six weeks of non-activity reduces the fitness of an...

A broken wrist will result in symptoms such as pain, bruising and swelling around the wrist area. You may need to reduce swelling before a tight cast can be applied to your wrist. Reducing...

Recovering from a broken jaw requires the jaw being wired shut. This restricts one's ability to eat, speak and even keep the mouth clean, but there are measures that can be taken to alleviate...

Arm and underarm pain is a common complaint by those who use crutches. The pain can be severe and even result in "crutch paralysis," in which the crutches push into the underarm and damage the...

A person's bones are the framework of his or her life. The bones support the body by giving it structure and protecting the internal organs. If a person with osteoporosis is not careful with his...

Water on the knee is a swelling of knee joint caused by too much fluid. According to the Mayo Clinic, symptoms for water on the knee include pain, swelling, bruising and stiffness. Causes include...

Osteoporosis, which weakens bones, making them more likely to break, is a widespread but under-diagnosed condition. A growing number of people in the United States and worldwide are at risk of...

Your ankle is not a single bone, but a joint composed of three bones: the tibia, the fibula and the talus. A break may involve one of these bones or a combination. A broken ankle can vary in...

The instep is one of the six major parts of the human foot. The foot is a complex structure, that has about a quarter of all the bones in the human body. It also has more than a hundred muscles...

Wearing a cast over an injury can be a challenge, especially when the skin underneath becomes itchy. Your doctor will probably tell you not to insert anything between the cast and your skin to...

The older you get, the more susceptible you are to breaking your hip. It can happen at any age, much like any other broken bone; but as you age, your bones become less dense and weaker. It is most...

The shoulder is a bony structure that is located in the upper back and connects the upper arm to the chest wall. It is also responsible for forming the socket which connects the shoulder joint to...

A broken shoulder ball is a term used to describe a fracture of the upper end of the humerus bone, which is located inside the shoulder joint. Also called proximal humerus fractures, breaks in...

Wrist fractures can occur when you fall forward and try to break the fall by throwing your hands forward, causing your radius or ulna--the bones in forearm attached to the wrist--to buckle. A...

If you are a first-time user of crutches, you should be aware of the difference between underarm and forearm crutches. Both styles will require practice for true mobility, but each offers...

I broke my femur in two places during a friendly soccer game. I only remember running very fast and colliding with another player from the opposing team. I fell down and saw my right knee...

Pain of a broken arm may depend on the type of break you have sustained. Certain breaks cause tissue damage due to penetration of the bone through the skin. These breaks are called compound...

The femur is the thigh bone, extends from the hip to the knee and is the longest bone in the body. When there is a break in this bone, it is called a femoral fracture. A break in the femur is...

A fiberglass cast is used to protect and immobilize a healing body part. The fiberglass cast material works well as a cast because it's lightweight, durable and porous so that air can pass through...

A fractured elbow can be a painful injury to recover from due to the limited movement available. Not being able to move the elbow can cause the joints to become stiff causing a loss in the range...

Physical exercise is a great way to stay in shape, but some athletes work themselves too hard. The consequences may include a steady intensification of pain in the foot as the bones weaken and...

A leg brace is a protective device used to help heal a fractured bone. Unlike casts, leg braces or splints can be easily adjusted as your leg recovers. Braces can be tailored to fit your leg or...

There are few things more frustrating, for both parent and child, than the trauma and recovery from a broken arm or leg. Even if it isn't summer, curtailing water sports and activities, there is...

Casts and braces are necessary for injuries or broken and fractured bones. They keep muscles, bones and tendons from moving and creating further injury. There are several different types of casts...

Though not the most common fracture, buckle fractures, also known as torus fractures, are most often seen in young and elderly patients. Although buckle fractures can occur in any bone, the most...

When you break your jaw bone, you can experience numbness in the face, loose or damaged teeth, and difficulty opening your mouth. Also, you can feel facial swelling or bruising. Complications from...

According to the Mayo Clinic, foot drop is a condition that results from weak or paralyzed muscles below the knee, rendering them unable to lift the front part of the foot. Specific causes vary,...

The severity of your broken ankle will determine how long you will have to wear a cast and rest your foot. But when the cast comes off and your back on your feet, it's important to follow a...

Shoulder bone fractures are often associated with injuries that are severe in nature. As a result, quick, decisive action must be taken.

Fractures of the shoulder blade are sometimes connected with severe and life-threatening injuries. Immediate attention is necessary.

Breaking a hip can be a serious event for an older person. The loss of mobility and independence can be a frightening experience. About 350,000 people fracture a hip each year in the United...

Sticking your nose out can get it broken, whether you are involved in a game, a fight, a fall or an accident. Because the nose is the face's most prominent feature, nasal fractures account for 40...

Your nose can be broken after falling or hitting hard a surface. You'll need to reduce swelling on your nose immediately. Sometime pain can be so severe and swelling can make your nose look...

With a broken ankle and fibula, it's important not to lose strength and flexibility in your ankle as you recuperate. There are ways to rehabilitate your ankle and fibula at home. Different...

An Aircast brand device is a very light cast made of plastic that is used to treat foot and ankle breaks or sprains. It has a protuberance on the bottom that allows patients to walk and it can be...

Nose injuries are fairly common. Broken noses occur with sever blows often from sports or automobile accidents. Symptoms of a broken nose include pain, bleeding, swelling, black eyes, crookedness...

Most of us, at one time or another, have jammed a thumb or even sprained or broken it. It can be very uncomfortable, mainly because of the tendency to move your thumb when using any other part of...

An estimated 25,000 to 50,000 U.S. residents suffer from osteogenesis imperfecta, or brittle bone disease, according to the Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation. Those who have this genetic disorder...

Cracked, broken and bruised ribs are painful injuries. Adding inconvenience to injury is the fact that they are tricky to treat. While you can put a broken arm in a splint or a cast, the torso...

Being on crutches can slow you down, so when you need to make a flight, nothing helps more than a little foresight. Even though you may get bumped to the fronts of lines in some airports, it...

An injured or broken leg can lead to a major life style change. That change can be annoying enough without a contribution from crutches. They support your entire body weight while it’s in...

A fractured or broken finger should be immobilized to prevent further injury until medical attention can be given. You should splint the broken finger to stabilize the injury.

The fibula is the smaller of the two long bones in the lower leg. It is located on the outer or lateral edge of the leg, and is connected to the other long bone (tibia) at the top and bottom by...