Newswise — The summer months are prime time for outdoor activities, and the health benefits of more movement and sports participation are hard to deny. But as activities increase, so does the risk for an orthopedic injury, and bone fractures are among the most common. For a less serious fracture, such as a tiny crack in a bone, the main treatment is often rest or immobilization.
At the other end of the spectrum, broken bones resulting from a serious accident could require emergency surgery. Although any bone in the body can break, the collarbone, wrist, ankle, spinal vertebrae and hip are most prone to a fracture, says Nicholas Sama, MD , director of Orthopedic Trauma at HSS Florida, the West Palm Beach location of Hospital for Special Surgery. As an orthopedic trauma specialist, he has high-level training and expertise in treating fractures.
Breaking a bone can be a difficult and sometimes frightening experience, but with the right treatment, bones have a natural ability to heal, Dr. Sama says. What should you do if you sustain an injury and think you may have a fracture? Dr.
Sama’s advice aims to give patients the best chance for proper treatment, healthy healing and a good medical outcome. 1 – Know the signs and act in a timely fashion . After an injury, signs of a broken bone may include severe pain, swelling, a deformity in the affected body part and the inability to bear weight.
Sometimes, it is evident that emergency medical care is necessary. A bone may look out.