Fractures

Fractures are broken bones. A fractured arm, leg, hip or other bone can be severely painful. Numbness or a tingling sensation may accompany the pain, along with, bruising, inflammation, restricted mobility, and physical deformity of the broken appendage. Fractures require immediate medical care. They may occur due to blunt force trauma, as in a fall or car accident, or due to a disease process in which the bone has been weakened over time. Serious fractures – especially compound fractures where the broken bone protrudes from the skin – can lead to complications such as infection or blood vessel damage. However, more minor fractures that occur in younger people may be able to heal with the proper care within just a few weeks.