Repair of a Pathologic Fracture
Repair of a Pathologic Fracture – There are different types of bone fractures that somebody could sustain, and it is important to categorize fractures so that the proper treatment can begin. Like auto accidents, bone fractures have a wide range from the smallest of hairline fractures to severe, compound breaks. Some of the different types of bone fractures that somebody might suffer, according to Ortho Info include:
- Stable Fracture: Also termed a non-displaced fracture, this fracture has occurred in a bone, but the ends of the bone still line up.
- Open Fracture: A fracture is open if the bones protrude through the skin, leading to severe bleeding and major infection risk.
- Transverse Fracture: This is a break in a horizontal line across the bone.
- Spiral Fracture: Corkscrew in appearance, a spiral fracture is often caused by a twisting motion, leading to a major break.
- Comminuted Fracture: A fracture is comminuted if it is broken into multiple pieces, often called “shattered.”
Some fractures are more serious than others. One type of fracture that is often overlooked is called a pathologic fracture. A pathologic fracture occurs if the bone has already been weakened by a pre-existing disease, illness, or condition. This means that the bone could break with a relatively benign force. Because of this, these fractures are often more severe. It is essential to understand how these fractures are repaired.
Risk Factors of a Pathologic Fracture
A fracture is termed pathologic if it has been broken by a force that should not break a healthy bone. The fracture occurred because it was weakened by a prior pathology, thus the name. Some of the common diseases that can lead to weak bones include:
- Cancerous processes, such as tumors that invade the bone and destroy the architecture
- Osteoporosis, which leads to low bone density
- Osteomalacia
- Vitamin D deficiency
- Paget’s Disease
When these diseases weaken the bone, even something as benign as an awkward step can lead to a serious break. Those involved in major trauma, such as an auto accident, could break multiple bones. This is called polytrauma.
How is a Pathologic Fracture Repaired?
When someone suffers a pathologic fracture, the repair process is challenging. Because of the severity of the bone fracture, there are often pieces that are displaced. Therefore, surgery is needed to put the bones back together. Even though plates and screws are typically used to hold the pieces in place, a surgeon needs to make sure that there is enough bony architecture to support this equipment. This means that the surgery process is more involved and extreme caution needs to be used. Finally, because the bones are typically weaker, intense physical therapy is needed to strengthen the muscles around the bones. These muscles are required to provide extra support to an otherwise weak bone.
Speak with a Sacramento Car Accident Lawyer
When someone suffers a pathologic fracture, the bone is often displaced and broken into several pieces. The repair process can be challenging and could place families under a large amount of stress from:
- The possible risks of operations
- Complications of the pathologic bone fracture
- Concern regarding the cost of a procedure
- Worries about a re-fracture
- Questions about how the injury happened in the first place
Families deserve to have their questions answered and, for this reason, they should meet with a car accident lawyer in Sacramento.
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Sacramento Car Accident Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a car accident lawyer in Sacramento. Pathologic fractures are almost always serious injuries. If you or a loved one has suffered injuries in a car accident, call me at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400 for free, friendly legal advice.
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Repair of a Pathologic Fracture: AutoAccident.com
Image Attribution: The photo at the start of this article is seen in its original form on Unsplash. The image has been reproduced here with permission/Repair of a Pathologic Fracture.
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