Can a hairline fracture heal incorrectly?

Can a hairline fracture heal incorrectly?

Broken bones can occasionally heal in the wrong position, forming a “malunion” or “malalignment” after treatment. These misaligned bones can cause further problems and pain in the body.

What happens if growth plate is damaged?

If a fracture goes through a growth plate, it can result in a shorter or crooked limb. A growth plate fracture affects the layer of growing tissue near the ends of a child’s bones. Growth plates are the softest and weakest sections of the skeleton — sometimes even weaker than surrounding ligaments and tendons.

How would you know if your toe is broken?

Broken toes are some of the most common breaks of the foot and are frequently marked by symptoms like:

  1. Severe bruising.
  2. Intense & throbbing pain.
  3. Swelling.
  4. Deformity.
  5. Difficulty walking.
  6. Toenail discoloration.
  7. Crooked & misshapen appearance of the toe.

How common are growth plate fractures?

How common are growth plate fractures? Up to one-third of all the fractures that occur in children are growth plate fractures. They are more common in boys than girls. In fact, boys are twice as likely to have growth plate fractures as girls, because girls’ bones stop growing and harden at an earlier age.

What age do your growth plates close?

Growth plates usually close near the end of puberty. For girls, this usually is when they’re 13–15; for boys, it’s when they’re 15–17.

What do you do if you break your little toe?

For a simple break, your doctor may splint your pinky to your fourth toe to keep it in place while it heals. If the break is serious, surgery may be necessary to reset the bone. Your doctor will likely recommend over-the-counter (OTC) pain medications, rest, and home care.

Can my hairline fracture heal on its own?

A hairline fracture is generally not very serious and can be treated with rest. It will heal itself in a few weeks, provided it is left alone. The majority of hairline fractures will heal by themselves if the person refrains from activities that strain the affected area.

Can you have a hairline fracture and not know it?

Yes. It’s a hairline fracture – they’re very fine. You can have a hairline fracture for a long time and not know it – sometimes the only way you find out is when you do something that makes the fracture worse/bigger and you feel pain when it happens.

What does a hairline fracture feel like?

The bone with a hairline fracture would feel tender when touched with swelling. A person suffers from the non-displaced fracture will always notice some type of symptoms like swelling, bruising and redness in the injured region. You will also feel the sound of snap or grinding in the injured area which may get deformed on pushing through the skin.

What is the treatment for a hairline fracture?

Bed Rest. An orthopedic physician may choose to put a patient on bed rest instead of surgical intervention for a number of reasons.

  • Surgery. A hairline fracture that occurs at the neck of the femur often only needs screws to hold the bone in place while it heals.
  • Medications.
  • Rehabilitation.
  • author

    Back to Top