Fracture Care

Breaking a bone can be agonizing, so fast treatment is vital. At Acute Care Orthopedics in West Hills, California, board-certified orthopedic surgeons Umesh Bhagia, MD, and Nicolas Vardiabasis, DO, offer specialized fracture care to patients 12 and older. The practice provides same-day appointments for suspected fractures so that you can avoid visiting the hospital emergency room. Call Acute Care Orthopedics today if you suffer a fracture or book an appointment online.

What is fracture care?

Fracture care is the expert treatment of broken bones. Proper fracture care helps your bones heal more quickly and avoids long-term pain and weakness in the damaged bone.

Fractures happen when excessive pressure is put on the bones. Road accidents, sports injuries, and falls are common causes of fractures.

What symptoms suggest I need fracture care?

Fractures often cause sudden, intense pain when the bone breaks. Other fracture symptoms include:

• Problems moving an arm or leg
• Difficulty bearing weight
• Lump under the skin or another abnormality
• Swelling
• Bruising
• Redness
• Heat

Fracture pain varies depending on the break and its severity. The most painful bone breaks are likely to be comminuted fractures, where the bone breaks into several pieces, and compound (or open) fractures, where the broken bone cuts through the skin.

Minor, less severe bone fractures can be mistaken for a sprain, strain, or deep bruising. Stress fractures (tiny cracks caused by overuse) usually cause mild pain that gradually gets worse.

Getting an accurate diagnosis is essential to ensure you receive the best treatment for your injury. Acute Care Orthopedics has on-site diagnostic imaging to provide a fast, precise evaluation of your injury.

What does fracture care involve?

Fracture care varies according to the injury’s severity:

Casting and splinting

Simple fractures don’t cause the bones to move out of position. After a thorough assessment to ensure no misalignments or bone fragments, your Acute Care Orthopedics doctor fits a splint or cast to protect your bones while they heal.

Closed reduction

If the broken bones are misaligned, your doctor can realign them using their hands. This is called closed reduction because it doesn’t involve surgery. After taking an X-ray to check the bones are correctly aligned, your doctor applies a cast to keep them in position.

Open reduction

If your doctor can’t use closed reduction techniques, you might need surgery (open reduction). Your surgeon repairs and repositions the bones and repairs damaged soft tissue.

They might use internal fixation, inserting pins, screws, plates, and/or rods for severe fractures. For the worst fractures, your surgeon will use external fixation (like a metal cage) to support and protect the healing bones.

Call Acute Care Orthopedics today for an urgent appointment if you have fracture symptoms. You can also schedule a consultation online.