Fractures and Broken Bones: Diagnosis, Treatment, and Recovery
You don’t have to be an athlete to suffer a fracture or broken bone. A bad fall, traumatic accident, sports injury, or osteoporosis can all lead to fractures and broken bones. You need the expertise of an orthopaedic doctor. Dr. Jeffrey Chase at Virgin Islands Orthopaedics & Medical Specialists provides comprehensive orthopaedic services, including treatment of fractures and broken bones. We have two convenient office locations in St. Thomas and St. Croix, to help you.
What You Need To Know About Fractures and Broken Bones
Fractures and broken bones most often occur in the arms, elbows, legs, the collarbone, or the hips. If you experience a minor fracture in one of the smaller bones of the feet, hands, or other areas, signs and symptoms may be slight.
In more severe cases, you may experience:
- Tenderness and pain around the injured area
- Bruising and swelling around the injured area
- An obvious deformity involving the bone
- Loss of mobility of the injured body part
- Limited range-of-motion of the injured body part
Immediately after experiencing a fracture or broken bone, you should:
- Apply ice packs to the injured area to limit swelling
- Elevate the injured body part
- Immobilize the injured body part with a sling or splint
- Take over-the-counter pain and anti-inflammatory medications
- Rest and avoid moving the injured body part
Diagnosis of a fracture or broken bone involves imaging studies including x-rays of the affected area. Depending on the severity of damage, an MRI may also be recommended.
For minor fractures, your orthopaedic doctor may recommend immobilization and palliative care while the fracture heals. Physical therapy after the fracture heals can help restore strength and mobility.
For more serious fractures and broken bones, surgery may be recommended. Orthopaedic surgery can help to:
- Realign bones
- Repair torn tendons and ligaments
- Restore full function
After orthopaedic surgery, your doctor may recommend physical therapy to help you regain strength, mobility, and flexibility. Recovery from a fracture or broken bone takes a minimum of 6 to 8 weeks, depending on the severity of the injury.
Want To Know More?
To discover more about treatment of fractures and broken bones and how your orthopaedic doctor can help, call Dr. Jeffrey Chase at Virgin Islands Orthopaedics & Medical Specialists. You can reach them in St. Thomas at (340) 714-2845, or at their office in St. Croix at (340) 692-5000, so call today.