F R A C T U R E S
|
What
is a fracture?
|
 |
How
do you get fractures?
A bone can become fractured from one of two ways:
While there is not too much you can do to avoid accidental trauma, there are a host of factors that can influence whether a bone will be likely to break from a gradual build-up of stresses from overuse.
For example, your occupation plays a role (jobs that require long periods of weight bearing will put more stress on bones that more sedentary ones); your shoes make a difference (high heels, for example, can put an enormous strain on your metatarsal bones); weight, health and nutrition also play major roles.
Additionally, certain inherited metabolic bone diseases can make it weaker than normal (as with Osteogenesis Imperfecta, for example), and certain acquired diseases can affect bone (as with Paget's disease and Rickets). Most common, however, is the weakening of bone over time from osteoporosis.
Which
bones can become fractured?
Any bone can become fractured, especially from trauma. In the foot, the most likely bones to become fractured, though, are the heel bone (calcaneus), the ankle (usually the fibula), the ball of the foot (metatarsals), and toe bones (phalanges).
How
do you treat fractures?
Fractures are pretty well treated
with the same concept in mind: for a fracture to heal, the two opposing bony
ends from moving. This is called 'immobilization'. This can
be achieved from fibreglass or plaster casts, soft casts (like an Unna's
boot, e.g.), splints,
taping, or from surgical implantation of wires, pins, screws, plates, or a
device known as an external fixator.
But you don't treat
fractures of the toe bones, right?
Yes you should. Admittedly, toe bone fractures seem to be ignored in a lot of emergency rooms, but they shouldn't be.Your toe bones are no different from any bone in your body. Those same E.R. doctors would likely treat the exact same fracture if it were in the hand, for example, and the foot goes through a lot more stress and strain with each step than does your hand. In fact, because the bones are so small, the fracture is somewhat more likely to extend into a joint than in other bones, which can cause long-term arthritis and pain.It's too bad toe fractures (and even metatarsal fractures) are ignored as much as they are. It's quite easy to immobilize a toe with tape, for example. Not only does this allow them to heal more quickly, but they heal with less pain, too. So, by all means, yes, fractures of the toe bones should be treated.
How do you know
which is the best way to treat a given fracture?
Each fracture is different, and the decision on treatment is made on a case-by-case basis. Some bones heal better or more quickly than other bones, and some fracture patterns heal better or more quickly than other fracture patterns, even within the same bone.The physician must understand all the science behind healing, but also apply the science to each case. This is why medicine is both a science and an art.
How
do you avoid fractures?
It may be hard to avoid fractures completely, as it's hard to avoid unexpected trauma. But there are some simple things you can do to avoid certain fractures, such as stress fractures: