A broken bone isn’t something you ever want to experience — however, can happen to anyone under the right conditions. Also known as fractures, broken bones not only lead to pain, but weeks to months of recovery as well. Getting treatment for these injuries is essential to the proper healing of your bone.
At the University of Toledo Physicians, our team specializes in many different types of fractures. Dr. Nabil Ebraheim is our esteemed orthopedic surgeon who can help you when you’ve suffered an injury or broken bone, with the knowledge to give you the expert treatment that you need.
A broken bone, or fracture, is classified in a number of different ways. For example, the way the bone is broken is one way to determine what type of fracture you have. Another way to classify a fracture is if the bone has broken through the skin (compound) or remained enclosed in the area (simple).
The type of fracture you have can only truly be determined through imaging studies like an X-ray. Dr. Ebraheim uses the X-ray image to determine if you have one of the following types of fractures:
Each different type of fracture has it’s own discernable signs on an X-ray. For instance, a comminuted fracture means your bone has broken into a number of different pieces. On the other hand, a spiral fracture happens when the bone twists during the break.
No matter what type of fracture you’ve experienced, one thing is for sure — you need to seek treatment as soon as possible to prevent complications.
The signs and symptoms that you experience when you break a bone vary, depending on which bone is broken and the severity of the injury. If your fracture isn’t severe, you may only have mild symptoms. A few of the common signs that you’ve broken a bone include:
If you’ve suffered a traumatic injury and are experiencing any of the above symptoms, you need care immediately. A fracture that isn’t treated right away can lead to permanent nerve damage and other issues as well.
Dr. Ebraheim determines the type of treatment you need based on where you’ve suffered a fracture and the severity of the break. If conservative treatment is warranted, he may prescribe pain medications to help ease the discomfort in the area. Other treatments you may undergo with a broken bone include:
When your fracture is stable, Dr. Ebraheim uses either a splint or plaster cast to keep it immobilized while the bone heals. The amount of time you’ll be in the cast varies, depending on the severity of your fracture and where it’s located.
This treatment uses pulleys and weights to help gently stretch your tendons and muscles that surround the broken bone. This helps realign the fracture so it heals properly and stays in alignment.
If your fracture is severe and Dr. Ebraheim doesn’t feel it’ll heal with more conservative measures, he may opt for surgery to fix your bone. One of the surgical procedures Dr. Ebraheim performs is called an open reduction internal fixation, or ORIF.
In this procedure, the doctor makes an incision and reduces your fracture so the bone’s aligned properly. He then uses sterile plates and screws to hold the fracture together. After the procedure, you’ll be in a cast for several weeks to make sure your bone stays immobilized and heals correctly.
If you’ve suffered a broken bone and need immediate treatment, don’t hesitate to call our office at 419-383-3761, or book a consultation online today. You can also learn more about bone fractures on our YouTube channel.
