“Thank the Lord my bone isn’t broken, it’s only a fracture”, said the Archbishop to the actress… In fact, this is one of the biggest misconceptions in medicine. A bone fracture and a broken bone are the same thing. There is no difference, nought, nichts, méiyǒu, niente, nada, between them.
What’s the difference between a break and a fracture?
Although a break and a fracture are the same, the most important question when one breaks or fractures a bone is whether the parts are completely intact or split apart. Think of it a bit like a china teacup. Whereby if it falls and cracks slightly, that is different to one that has broken into many pieces.
Treatment For Bone Injuries
If it’s intact then usually a period of time in a splint or plaster allows the body’s healing mechanisms to repair itself. Orthopaedic experts often say 4-6 weeks for an upper limb and 6-12 weeks for a lower limb. On the other hand, if the pieces are displaced, meaning rotated, angulated or split into many bits. Then this may mean you need a surgeon to put you together again, a bit like humpty dumpty.
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