Broken bones have an amazing ability to heal, especially in children. New bone forms within a few weeks of the injury, although full healing can take longer.
Broken bones usually heal and get strong again, but not always. When broken bones don't heal back together it is call non-union, and that can cause a lot of problems.
This often-repeated notion may give you the idea that after your broken bone heals, it will be tougher than ever and won't break again, but this isn't actually true. Having had a previous break won't protect you from breaking the same bone again, if you happen to experience trauma to the same body part.
Despite one misconception, there is no evidence that a bone that breaks will heal to be stronger than it was before. When a bone fractures, it begins the healing process by forming a callus at the fracture site, where calcium is deposited to aid rebuilding, said Dr. Terry D.
How Long Does Bone Healing Take? Bone generally takes six to 12 weeks to heal to a significant degree. In general, children's bones heal faster than those of adults.
A fracture of the upper arm or humerus may heal uneventfully in several weeks, while a fracture in the forearm takes much longer. The femur, or thighbone, is the longest and strongest bone in the body and difficult to break without major trauma.
Some people assume that fractured bones are more serious than broken bones, while others assume it's the other way around. But the truth is that these terms are used interchangeably, and they have the same meaning to medical professionals.
A simple arm fracture is usually treated with a splint or cast, however, a complex fracture may require surgery. With proper treatment, broken arms can heal completely.
Pain that persists after full healing is expected to have taken place is called chronic pain. Chronic pain may be due to nerve damage, the development of scar tissue, an aggravation of underlying arthritis or any number of other causes.
A broken bone may lead to widespread body pain – not just at the site of the fracture. Breaking a major bone may increase risk of widespread chronic body pain in later life, a new study has found.
Depending on the severity of the fracture and the way it has impacted your life, you may experience a range of psychological conditions. These can include depression, anxiety, stress and nightmares.
After the bone finishes the remodeling stage, its strength basically returns to what it was before. The bone at the fracture site is not less likely than the rest of the bone to break again and the bone doesn't grow back stronger.
If you do not receive the correct treatment, you could develop a serious infection or a permanent deformity. You may also have long-term problems with your joints. It's important not to eat or drink anything if you think you've broken a bone, as you may need a general anaesthetic to allow doctors to realign it.
“Pain may be worse at night as a result of swelling that occurred during the day or just from whatever activity you did,” Dr. Schultz said. Elevating your injury and decreasing swelling can significantly control pain.
Some people may continue to experience pain long after the fracture and soft tissues have finished healing. This is what we call chronic pain. Chronic pain may be caused by nerve damage, the development of scar tissue, aggravation of underlying arthritis, or other causes.
Fractures that extend into a joint can cause arthritis there years later. Stiffness. The immobilization required to heal a fracture in the upper arm bone can sometimes result in painfully limited range of motion of the elbow or shoulder. Bone infection.
If you have a non-healing bone fracture and are unable to work, then you may be eligible to receive disability benefits. You can apply for two types of benefits through the Social Security Administration. First, you can apply for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits (SSDI).
The scaphoid is the most difficult bone in the body to get to heal due to its bad blood supply, location inside a joint, and heavy stresses applied by the neighboring bones. If a scaphoid fracture has 1 mm displacement, the chance of it not healing in a cast is 40%.
Compound Fracture
This is one of the most severe injuries: A compound or open fracture is when the bone pierces the skin when it breaks. Surgery is usually called for due to its severity and the risk of infection. Treatment for a Compound Fracture: This type of injury is an emergency.
Example: A comminuted fracture is the most difficult to repair due to the bone having fractured into numerous pieces. Multiple bone pieces require more effort to hold them together in the ideal position for healing.
Humerus or femur fractures.
These two long bones are strong and usually do not break easily unless the injury is severe (such as a car accident). Having these two long bone fractures may be a sign of metabolic bone disease.
What Part of the Body Heals the Slowest? Ligaments, nerves and wounds in areas with more movement heal the slowest. Injuries to these areas have a longer recovery time because of poor blood circulation and constant motion stress.
In particular, calcium, vitamin D and protein will be important during the bone healing process, so be sure you're focusing on food sources rich in these nutrients, including dark, leafy greens, broccoli, fish, meat, yogurt, nuts and seeds.