REPAIRANCE OF BROKEN BONES

REPAIR OF BROKEN BONES

Despite remarkable strength, the bones may break. During youth, most fractures result from trauma that may twist or break the bones such as sports injuries, automobile accidents, falls etc. In old age, bones become thin and weak and hence fractures occur more frequently.

A fracture is treated by reduction followed by realignment of the broken bone
ends. There are two types of reduction: closed and open reduction. In closed reduction
the bone end is coaxed back to their normal position by physician's hand. In open
reduction surgery is performed and the bone ends are secured together with pins or wires.

After broken bone is reduced, it is immobilized by a cast or by traction to allow the
healing process to begin. Healing time is 8-12 weeks, but it is much longer for large
weight-bearing bones and for bones of elderly people (because of their poorer blood
circulation).

The repair process of a simple fracture takes place in four phases:

1. Hematoma Formation: When a bone breaks, the blood vessels in the bone
itself, and perhaps in surrounding are torn resulting hemorrhage.. sa result, a hematoma, a mass of clotted blood, forms at the fracture site. Soon after, bone cell deprived of food begin to die and the tissue at the fracture site becomes swollen and hence painful.
2. Callus Formation : Next "soft callus" begins to form in 3-4 weeks. Capillaries
grow into the hematoma and clear up the debris. Fibroblasts and osteoblasts migrate into
the fracture site and begin to construct bone.
3. Bony Callus Formation Osteoblasts and osteoclasts continue to migrate. inward, multiply
 rapidly and gradually convert the soft callus into bony callus. Bone formation begins 3-4 weeks after injury and continues until a firm bony union is formed within 2-3 months later.