It is important to know how to suspect fracture after injury and what should be done to confirm them. It is not uncommon to see patients who suffered an injury but did not seek medical advice.
An early treatment of fractures is important and always give much better functional outcome. An early recognition is must for early treatment. That only can be done if somebody thinks it is important to seek advice.
How to suspect fracture?
- There would be history of may injury except in cases where bones are weak and break under routine stresses.
- Pain and tenderness are consistent findings and may sometimes be the only evidence of a fracture.
- Deformity of the limb or angulation are both highly suggestive of a fracture.
- Loss of function is often noted but may be minimal in incomplete fractures.
These features should warn the patient enough to seek a medical opinion.
Xrays would reveal broken bones and are necessary to confirm any suspicion of fracture.
Normal radiographs suggest but do not determine an absolute absence of injury.Many fractures will not be apparent, and soft tissue damage to ligaments and neurovascular structures may be overlooked.
Following things are necessary to equip yourself with enough information to confirm or rule out a fracture
- A fracture or dislocation may require two x-rays too be seen (anteroposterior and lateral); a single view should never be relied upon.
- In fractures of the forearm and lower leg, the joints above and below the fracture must be included on the radiographs. This is to exclude the possibility that the other bone is broken or dislocated.
- In children, “comparison” views are helpful, as normal epiphyses and centers of ossification may confuse the diagnosis of fracture.
When confirmed, the fracture should be treated accordingly.
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