Bones and their surrounding
tissue, ligaments, muscles, and joints comprise the musculoskeletal system of the human body. The bones themselves have two distinct parts, the hard exterior that consists largely of proteins, and the softer interior where the all-important
blood cells are manufactured by the bone marrow.
A bone may break or fracture when the force applied against it is greater than the strength of the bone itself. The severity of the fracture depends on several factors including the victim's overall health, age, and type of impact.
The two most common types of breaks are the simple and compound fractures. A simple fracture occurs when the bone breaks yet does not puncture the skin. A compound fracture can be more serious as the broken bone pierces the skin increasing the risk of
infection.
Most fractures take at least four, and up to eight weeks to heal and often require complete immobilization of the affected area. Bones are able to regenerate themselves, and a
doctor will likely realign the bone so that the two broken segments will grow back as one. A doctor may also apply a splint or cast around the affected area to assist with immobilization. Some complex fractures may require a surgical procedure to stabilize the bone with metal rods and plates.
View sub-topics below to learn more about broken bones and related injuries.
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See Also
- Bone, Joint & Muscle Disorders: Overview
- Broken Back: Overview
- 15-Passenger Vans: Overview
- 1998-2003 Dodge Durangos
- 1999-2003 General Motors Pickup Trucks - Tailgate Defects
- 2000 Lincoln LS Back Seat Latch
- 2003 METRA Commuter Train Accident - Chicago
- 2003 Staten Island Ferry Accident
- 2004 Mississippi Amtrak Train Derailment
- Accelerator
- Air Rage: Overview
- ALENTI Patient Lifts
- All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs)
- Automatic Doors: Overview
- Baby Cribs, Car Seats & Carriers
- Boats, Personal Watercraft & Jet Skis
- Brakes
- Bridgestone/Firestone Steeltex Tires
- Bronco II
- Car Roof Integrity
- Cigarettes & Tobacco
- Clothing: Overview
- Cooper Tires / Dean Tires
- Crane Accidents
- Cruise Ship & Ferry Accidents
- Dangerous Rides & Attractions
- Daycare Abuse: Overview
- Deer Tree Stands
- Diving Accidents: Overview
- Dog Bite
- Dynacraft Mountain Bikes
- Elevators
- Escalators
- Evenflo Discovery Infant Car Seats
- Firestone Tires: Overview
- Fitness Center Liability: Overview
- Ford Explorer
- Ford F-150: Overview
- Ford SUVs & Pickup Trucks - Door Latches
- Forklift Accidents
- Front-to-Rear Collision
- Front-to-Side Collision
- Gas & Oil Pipeline Accidents
- Gen-3 Seat Belts
- GnRH-a Therapy: Overview
- Graco Children's Products Car Seats
- Graco Children's Products Inc.
- Gun Violence: Overview
- Head-On Collision With Another Vehicle
- Head-On With Object
- Highland Park Care Center
- High-Speed Police Chases
- Home Depot & Falling Merchandise
- Inadequate Security: Overview
- Inmate Abuse: Overview
- Ladders
- Lifetime Products Inc. Portable Basketball Hoops
- Los Angeles Metrolink Commuter Train Accident
- Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouse & Falling Merchandise
- Medibo Minerva Patient Lift
- Migrant Workers: Overview
- Mining & Oil Field Accidents
- Minstrel Patient Lifts
- Motorcycles
- Moving Solutions Patient Lifts
- Nursing Home & Daycare Abuse: Overview
- Nursing Home & Elder Abuse
- Parasailing: Overview
- Plane Crashes, Accidents & Near Misses
- Playground Accidents: Overview
- Police Misconduct: Overview
- Pool Accidents
- Prison Health Services -Tampa
- Rear End Collision: Overview
- Rear-Center-Seat Lap Belts
- Reclining Seats
- Road Design & Maintenance
- Rollover
- Scooters: Overview
- Seat Belts
- Seat Design
- Shield-Style Car Seats
- Side Impact Collision
- Ski Resort Liability: Overview
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- Snowmobiles: Overview
- Superstore Liability & Falling Merchandise
- Swimming Pool Drains
- Dangerous Folding Tables: Overview
- Televisions: Overview
- Tractor-Trailer Accidents
- Tractor-Trailer Underride Accidents
- Train Accidents
- Trampolines
- Treadmill: Overview
- US Navy South Carolina Bus Crash
- Vehicle Design / Crashworthiness
- Vermeer Round Hay Baler
- Violent Children & Teenagers: Overview
- Vitamin A: Overview
- Wal-Mart & Falling Merchandise
- Water Parks & Slides: Overview
- Workplace Violence
- Broken Bones: Frequently Asked Questions