What is a bone fracture?

At The London Clinic we offer the latest treatments for bone fractures and breaks.

During your visit one of our highly experienced orthopaedic surgeons will look after you and provide you with the most effective treatment and aftercare.

At The London Clinic we treat all types of bone fractures including: 

• Complete fractures: where the bone breaks into two or more separate parts
• Open (compound) fractures: where the bone pierces the skin and needs immediate medical attention
• Closed (simple) fractures: where the bone doesn’t puncture the skin
• Incomplete fractures: where the bone cracks but doesn’t separate into two parts
• Hairline (stress) fractures: where the bone has a mild crack or bruise 
• Displaced fracture: where the bone fragments are misaligned
• Comminuted fractures: where the bone is smashed into several pieces
• Compression fracture: when the bone collapses and starts to break up
• Avulsion fracture: where a bone breaks because of an injury that causes extensive tearing of muscle or ligament

If you have a broken bone you usually feel pain, dizziness and nausea and may not be able to apply pressure on the joint or limb. 

You may have bruising, swelling and tenderness around the break. 

If you have an open fracture there may be blood and discoloration around a wound. 

At The London Clinic, we use a range of diagnostic imaging to help your orthopaedic surgeon make a fast and accurate diagnosis so they can tailor your treatment to you. 

As well as surgery, we also provide innovative physiotherapy and aftercare to help you make a full recovery.

From your first consultation right through to follow up, you’ll have a more complete, connected kind of care that puts your needs first. 

Contact us today, so you can start your treatment journey and get back to the life you love. 

How are bone fractures diagnosed?

Your orthopaedic surgeon will examine you and send you for one or two in-house imaging tests to diagnose a bone fracture. This includes:

• X-ray: for a two dimensional picture of the break
• Bone scan: for fractures that may not show up on a X-ray such as hairline or stress fractures
• CT scan: for a more detailed slice or cross-section of the bone
• MRI scan: more detailed imaging difficult to see fractures and to assess the soft tissues

How are bone fractures treated at The London Clinic?

Depending on the type of fracture you have your treatment may include: 

• Over the counter pain relief for mild fractures
• Specialised pain relief such as intravenous medication for severe fractures
• Cast, splint or traction device to immobilise the bone
• Surgery
• Physical therapy including physiotherapy and hydrotherapy

Some fractures only need a splint or cast to support the bone to heal, whereas a more serious fracture may need surgery to stabilise the bone while it repairs. 

Surgery can take several hours under a general anaesthetic and you may need to stay with us for a couple of nights while you recover. 

If you have a displaced fracture your surgeon may need to insert a metal pin, rod or plate to hold the bone in place. 

After surgery you will need to wear a cast for several weeks to support your limb or forelimb while it heals. 

To help you regain a full range of movement your orthopaedic surgeon may suggest a course of physiotherapy. 

At The London Clinic we have a dedicated physiotherapy unit and team of highly experienced therapists. 

With facilities such as a gym and hydrotherapy pool we can help you regain your strength and flexibility more quickly.

Big fractures may need extensive physiotherapy sometimes lasting six months or more. 

If you have a bone fracture it’s vital you return to normal physical activity as soon as possible.

Who is at risk of bone fractures? 

Bone fractures are extremely common and almost everyone will experience a fracture at some point in their life.

Some people are more at risk from fractures than others including:

• Older people 
• People with osteoporosis (bone thinning), including post-menopause
• Athletes and dancers
• People with long term conditions including osteomyelitis, rheumatoid arthritis, bone cancer
• People that eat a certain diet and live a certain lifestyle
• Children, as they tend to be more active 

How long does it take to recover from a bone fracture?

Depending on the size and depth of the bone fracture, you should find your bones begin to heal within six to twelve weeks. 

New bone forms naturally by itself and in children the process is much faster.

If you’ve had a big fracture or surgery it can take three to six months to heal. If you have a broken leg you may need a wheelchair or crutches for the first few weeks.

At The London Clinic we offer extensive aftercare including physiotherapy and hydrotherapy treatment to ensure you regain strength and flexibility in the affected joint or limb.

If you have any concerns, your care team is always on hand to support you.

What are the side effects of bone fracture treatment?

The bone fracture treatments we offer should ensure you have a full recovery with few side effects.

If you’ve had surgery to treat your fracture there will be pain and swelling at the site of the surgery for several days. The incision site may feel numb for a short time. 

If you’ve had a plate or screw put in place which causes discomfort, for instance for an ankle bone fracture or fracture on the top of the hand, we can remove it once the bone has healed. 

At The London Clinic we are always here to put your mind at rest if you have any worries.