Don’t delay medical treatment if you think you’ve broken a bone. Go to the nearest emergency room for diagnosis and treatment or see Dr. Brad K. Cohen at Aventura Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine in North Miami and Miami Beach, Florida. If you’re a man or woman in the Miami area who needs broken-bone treatment or wants to speed up their healing process, call Dr. Cohen’s helpful staff right away.
A fracture and broken bone are the same things. Most people have at least two fractures during their lifetime.
Children are apt to break their bones because of their high rates of activity. As you age, your bones become brittle and are more likely to break when subjected to an extreme force, such as a fall or blow.
Orthopedists categorize fractures into four main categories based on the injury’s characteristics:
Fractures are also divided into subtypes:
When you’ve had an accident, you can’t always tell if you’ve broken a bone or just sprained or strained your ligaments or tendons. For example, a stress fracture may be asymptomatic, so you may not feel any pain.
The signs and symptoms of a broken bone include:
During your physical exam, expect Dr. Cohen to use X-rays, CT scans, or bone scans to diagnose your fracture accurately.
Each type of fracture requires slightly different treatment, though Dr. Cohen will likely immobilize your fracture with a splint or cast.
He might also accelerate the healing of your broken bone with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy. If you have an open fracture, he’ll also clean out any infected tissues.
Displaced fractures must be repositioned and held in proper alignment, a procedure known as reduction. Dr. Cohen performs a closed (no surgery) or open reductions (with surgery). During open reduction, he may secure your bones with metal pins, plates, screws, or rods.
If you think you have a fracture, receive a firm diagnosis and treatment at an emergency room or Aventura Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine. You can reach Dr. Cohen by reaching his helpful staff by phone or booking an appointment online.