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Back to Top What do bones do? -
Bones are amazing in that they enclose, protect, provide support and allow
for mobility. With Internet Explorer, click on image to initiate.
Back to Top Types of bone fractures - did you know there are several different types of bone
fractures? With Internet Explorer, click on image to initiate.
Back to Top TREATMENT OF YOUR FRACTURE AND YOUR CAST
What you Should Know
"Thank goodness it's only a fracture. I thought it might be broken."
People often think that a fracture is less severe than a broken bone,
but fractures are broken bones. Bones are rigid, but when they are bent
and the force is too great they will break. The physicians at Carolina
Orthopaedic Surgery Associates, P.A. will discuss the type of fracture you
have and the proper treatment of the fracture. Most fractures generally heal well.
When the bone remains aligned, treatment normally only requires a sling, splint,
or cast and follow up for 6 to 8 weeks. More serious fractures may require
realignment of the bone in the office, a surgical procedure and in some cases
hardware to keep the bone aligned until it is healed. As with all injuries there
are risks associated with fractures. Even after the fracture has healed the patient
may have some discomfort or pain in the joint. Also in later years arthritis may
develop at the fracture site and in some instances a shortening of the bone may be noticed.
HELPFUL HINTS ABOUT YOUR FRACTURE AND YOUR CAST
Elevate your cast when swelling is present. Keeping your cast above your heart level will help reduce swelling and will help with pain control. Use pillows or other support which is comfortable to you.
If the fracture is related to your hand/foot, move your toes and fingers frequently.
If you have a cast - keep it dry and as clean as possible.
Do not ever stick objects into your cast even if your arm or leg "itches." If you break the skin you may develop any infection that would not be noticed until the cast is removed or becomes painful.
If your cast becomes wet, use a hair dryer on a low-cool setting to dry it. This may take some time. You should also note getting your cast wet may cause it to "smell." This is normal and one reason why you should avoid getting it wet. Your insurance will not pay to have your cast changed due to this and should you desire to have your cast changed it will cost approximately $65.00.
CONTACT US IF:
The area fracture site (outside the cast) becomes warm to touch or you notice any increased redness to the area
You develop a fever over 101 degrees
You experience numbness or persistent tingling
Your cast becomes too tight or too loose
The edges of your cast become rough and cause problems with your skin
You notice an unusual odor coming from within your cast and you have not gotten it wet or been out in the hot sun (sweating)
DRIVING:
MAKE SURE YOU CHECK WITH YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY regarding their policy on people driving with cast. Some policies will not cover the person driving if they have a cast. Also, be aware you are not to drive while taking narcotic pain medication.
ELEVATION:
As we mentioned above, to help with initial swelling elevate the injured part of the body. This should be done by lying flat on your back so that the elevated part is higher than your heart. Do this whenever possible by using pillows, blankets or whatever is comfortable to you. Swelling may take 24-72 hours to reduce and may re-occur occasionally. Elevation will also help with pain control since the blood is not flowing directly to the injured area. When swelling is noted be up only when necessary.
FINAL NOTE:
Your health care is important to us. We have physicians on call twenty-four (24) hours per day. If you have any emergency or problems relating to your treatment contact the office where you are being treated during normal hours. If an emergency arises after hours you may contact our physician on call at (803) 329-3130.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an imaging technique used primarily in medical
settings to produce high quality images of the inside of the human body.
MRI is based on the principles of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), a spectroscopic
technique used by scientists to obtain microscopic chemical and physical information
about molecules.
MRI provides an unparalleled view inside the human body. The level of detail we can
see is extraordinary compared with any other imaging modality. MRI is the method of
choice for the diagnosis of many types of injuries and conditions because of the incredible
ability to tailor the exam to the particular medical question being asked. By changing exam
parameters, the MRI system can cause tissues in the body to take on different appearances.
This is very helpful to the radiologist (who reads the MRI) in determining if something seen
is normal or not.
TREATMENT OF YOUR FRACTURE
What is an MRI scanner?