Fracture
Description
A fracture, basically, is a broken bone. Breaks can take different shapes (transverse, spiral etc.) and are usually classified as either simple, or compound.
In the simple, or closed, fracture, the bone breaks cleanly but remains within the limb. In the compound, or open, fracture, the bone penetrates the skin. The latter has a much higher risk of infection.
In children because the bones are not fully ossified, breaks are usually “greenstick” because like a stick, only one side breaks, as pliable tissue retains its integrity.
In severe trauma the bone may disintegrate, (more than 2 pieces is classified as “comminuted”).
Elderly people, especially women, may suffer a unique form of fracture within the spinal vertebrae, the "burst" fracture. The vertebra is no longer able to bear its load and disintegrates.
Causes
Most fractures are the result of sudden trauma, involving high forces: jumping or falling, a blow.
Other forms of fracture (“pathological”) are related to malnutrition, such as osteoporosis, which commonly affects the spine and hip. The vertebra may compress, taking on various abnormal shapes; the femoral neck can die (“necrosis”) leading to a break. The whole hip joint will then need to be replaced: total hip replacement, with a prosthesis.
Comminuted fractures require fixation with pins and screws, until healing takes place.
A minor crack may be the result of trauma but more commonly it will be due to repetitive stress, including “march fracture” affecting army recruits unused to forced marches in heavy boots.
Signs & Symptoms
Typically, the long bones of a leg or arm will be involved. The sufferer will then be encased in plaster of Paris (or fiber glass) for several weeks.
Aside from possible pain and audible signs, the affected limb will usually lose its integrity. An open fracture will be accompanied by external blood loss.
It is more problematical to diagnose certain “stress fractures” which may not even show up on x-ray until healing has begun, by which time the remodeling of the bone will be visible on a follow-up x-ray.
Most fractures will be x-rayed.
Nutritional Supplements
Structure & Function:
Bone Support &
Antioxidants
---------------------------------
General Supplements
---------------------------------
| Boron | 3 mg |
| Calcium | 2,000 mg |
| Glucosamine Sulfate* | |
| Magnesium | 1,000 mg |
| Proteolytic Enzymes* | |
| Silica* | |
| Vitamin A | 25,000 IU (10,000 if pregnant) |
| Vitamin C | 3,000 - 6,000 mg |
| Vitamin D | 400 - 1,000 IU |
| Zinc | 80 mg |
*Please refer to the respective topic for specific nutrient amounts.
Note: All amounts are in addition to those supplements having a Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA). Due to individual needs, one must always be aware of a possible undetermined effect when taking nutritional supplements. If any disturbances from the use of a particular supplement should occur, stop its use immediately and seek the care of a qualified health care professional.
Dietary Considerations
Fresh pineapple can help reduce swelling, resulting from the trauma.
Sodas, with a high content of phosphoric acid, can be counter-productive, negatively affecting bone formation.
Homeopathic Remedy
| Description | Remedy |
| Slow to heal | Calcarea phos. tinct. |
| General | Ruta graveolens tinct. |
Treatment Schedule
Over-the-counter homeopathic remedies may be single strength (of fairly weak potency e.g. 6X ) or a blend of several weaker strengths (6X, 8X, 10X).
This may comprise a single remedy, or several remedies.
Doses are administered on a 3 times daily (tid), between meals,schedule and continued for 3 days.
Liquid preparations usually use 8-10 drops per dose.
Solid preparations are usually 2 or 3 pellets per dose.
Children use 1/2 dose i.e. 1 pellet.
If there is aggravation of the symptoms, stop taking the remedy and consult a homeopath.
References
Murphy, R. : Homeopathic Medical Repertory. Hahneman Academy, Pagosa Springs, Colorado. 1993.
Murphy, R. : Lotus Materia Medica. Hahneman Academy, Pagosa Springs, Colorado. 1995.
Pert, J.C.: Homeopathy for the Family. The Homoeopathic Development Foundation, London. 1985 edition.
Tissue Salts
| Calc. Fluor. | strengthens bones, including bone bruises, calluses; |
| Calc. Phos. | repair after fracture; |
| Silicea | strengthens bones; |
Herbal Approaches
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Herbs
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Horsetail ( or Silica)
Note: The misdirected use of an herb can produce severely adverse effects, especially in combination with prescription drugs. This Herbal information is for educational purposes and is not intended as a replacement for medical advice.
Aromatherapy - Essential Oils
Related Health Conditions
AbstractsReferences
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Anonymous: Dietary supplementation after femur fracture. Nurses'-Drug-Alert. 1990 Jul; 14(7): 50 (1 ref).
Baran-DT: Magnitude and determinants of premenopausal bone loss. Osteoporos-Int. 1994; 4 Suppl 1: 31-4.
Bean-N: Habitus and hip fracture revisited: skeletal size, strength and cognition rather than thinness? Age-Ageing. 1995 Nov; 24(6): 481-4.
Bennell-KL: The incidence and distribution of stress fractures in competitive track and field athletes: a twelve-month prospective study. American-Journal-of-Sports-Medicine. 1996 Mar-Apr; 24(2): 211-7 (51 ref).
Binkley-NC; Suttie-JW: Vitamin K nutrition and osteoporosis. J-Nutr. 1995 Jul; 125(7): 1812-21.
Bonjour-JP: Nutritional aspects of hip fractures. Bone. 1996 Mar; 18(3 Suppl): 139S-144S.
Bunker-VW: The role of nutrition in osteoporosis. Br-J-Biomed-Sci. 1994 Sep; 51(3): 228-40.
Chiu JF et al., Long-term vegetarian diet and bone mineral density in postmenopausal Taiwanese women. Calcif Tissue Int, 1997 Mar, 60:3, 245-9.
D'Eramo-AL et al: Nutritional aspects of the orthopaedic trauma patient. Orthopaedic-Nursing. 1994 Jul-Aug; 13(4): 13-21 (24 ref).
Dawson-Hughes B et al., Effect of calcium and vitamin D supplementation on bone density in men and women 65 years of age or older [see comments]. N Engl J Med, 1997 Sep 4, 337:10, 670-6.
Duong-TT: Complications of fractures. Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation: State of the Art Reviews. 1995 Feb; 9(1): 17-30 (50 ref).
Feskanich-D: Protein consumption and bone fractures in women. Am-J-Epidemiol. 1996 Mar 1; 143(5): 472-9.
Gallagher-Allred-CR et al: Malnutrition and clinical outcomes: the case for medical nutrition therapy Journal-of-the-American-Dietetic-Association. 1996 Apr; 96(4): 361-9 (107 ref).
Huang-Z et al: Nutrition and subsequent hip fracture risk among a national cohort of white women. Am-J-Epidemiol. 1996 Jul 15; 144(2): 124-34.
Huang Z & Himes JH: Bone mass and subsequent risk of hip fracture. Epidemiology, 1997 Mar, 8:2, 192-5.
Incalzi-RA: Predicting in-hospital mortality after hip fracture in elderly patients. J-Trauma. 1994 Jan; 36(1): 79-82.
Joshi A & Kevorkian CG: Rehabilitation after cardiac transplantation. Case series and literature review. Am J Phys Med Rehabil, 1997 May-Jun, 76:3, 249-54.
Kessenich-CR & Rosen-CJ: Osteoporosis: implications for elderly men Geriatric-Nursing:-American-Journal-of-Care-for-the-Aging. 1996 Jul-Aug; 17(4): 171-4 (29 ref).
Key-JD; Key-LL Jr: Calcium needs of adolescents. Curr-Opin-Pediatr. 1994 Aug; 6(4): 379-82.
Key-JD; Key-LL Jr: Calcium needs of adolescents. Curr-Opin-Pediatr. 1994 Aug; 6(4): 379-82.
Kohlmeier-M: Transport of vitamin K to bone in humans. J-Nutr. 1996 Apr; 126(4 Suppl): 1192S-6S.
Lappe-JM: Bone fragility: assessment of risk and strategies for prevention Journal-of-Obstetric-Gynecologic-and-Neonatal-Nursing. 1994 Mar-Apr; 23(3): 260-8 (101 ref).
Lauritzen-JB et al: Risk factors for hip fractures. A review. Dan-Med-Bull. 1993 Sep; 40(4): 479-85.
Lloyd-T et al: Calcium supplementation and bone mineral density in adolescent girls [see comments]. JAMA. 1993 Aug 18; 270(7): 841-4.
Looker-AC: Dietary calcium and hip fracture risk: the NHANES I Epidemiologic Follow-Up Study. Osteoporos-Int. 1993 Jul; 3(4): 177-84.
Naftulin-S; Niergarth-S: Continuous passive motion. Physical-Medicine-and-Rehabilitation:-State-of-the-Art-Reviews. 1995 Feb; 9(1): 51-65 (116 ref).
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Owusu W et al., Calcium intake and the incidence of forearm and hip fractures among men. J Nutr, 1997 Sep, 127:9, 1782-7.
Position statement: ACSM position stand on osteoporosis and exercise. American College of Sports Medicine. Med-Sci-Sports-Exerc. 1995 Apr; 27(4): i-vii.
Rosen CJ & Kessenich CR: The pathophysiology and treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis. An evidence-based approach to estrogen replacement therapy. Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am, 1997 Jun, 26:2, 295-311.
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