Broken bones are no fun at all, to say the least. They continue to be, year in and year out, one of the most common reasons people get medical treatment.

Fractures, though bones do re-grow remarkably well, can get worse if they aren’t treated quickly and correctly. Read on to learn more from our AFC Urgent Care Memphis team.

What Is a Fracture?

Did you know? The average person will have two fractures, which is the medical term for a broken bone, during his or her life.

Fractures are more common among adults than children, because bones weaken with age. There are many different types of fractures, but we’ve listed the four main categories below.

Main Categories of Fractures

• Displaced: The bone snaps into two or more parts and moves so that the two ends are not lined up straight.
• Non-displaced: The bone cracks either partially or completely, but it doesn’t move and maintains its proper alignment.
• Closed: When the bone breaks, but there is no puncture or open wound in the skin.
• Open: The bone breaks through the skin, but then can recede back into the wound.

Will a Small Fracture Stay Small?

Yes, if it receives prompt and effective treatment. Even though bones have a remarkable capacity for regrowth and rapid healing, a fracture will almost always worsen if it isn’t attended to right away. This happens frequently with stress fractures or hairline fractures, which can become complete fractures if they are subjected to excessive stress and activity.

Depending on the degree of the fracture, bones usually mend in six weeks or so once they’ve been splinted, casted or immobilized. Visit our AFC center to get one of the tests we’ve listed below performed if you’ve been in discomfort but are unsure whether you have a fracture.

Tests that Diagnose Fractures

• X-rays: This is the most common way to diagnose a fracture, as this tool produces a two-dimensional picture of the break.
• Bone scan: This type of test is used to find fractures that don’t show up on an X-ray. This scan takes longer—usually two visits four hours apart—but it can help find some fractures.
• CT scan: A CT scan uses computers and X-rays to create detailed slices or cross-sections of the bone.
• MRI: This type of test is most often used to diagnose muscle and tissue-related injuries, but it can also diagnose a stress fracture.

Do you need an X-ray? Visit our AFC center today—no appointments necessary!