Consolidated fracture: what is it, treatment, consequences

What is a consolidated fracture? We will talk about this in this article. Also, you will learn about how fractures grow together, why patient recovery may slow down and how injuries are treated.

basic information

Consolidated fracture - this diagnosis is put to many patients who are injured. But not all patients know what this conclusion means.

Seeing such a strange phrase in his medical book, most people are completely bewildered. Most often this term is associated with any serious pathology. However, a consolidated fracture does not represent anything terrible.

What is a fracture?

The surgeon, the traumatologist - these are the specialists to whom people with bone fractures turn.

Fracture - partial or complete damage to the integrity of bone tissue, which occurred when the load is several times higher than the strength of the damaged part of the skeleton. Such a pathological condition can arise not only due to injury, but also as a result of various diseases, which are accompanied by significant changes in the strength properties of bones.

Applying to a free or paid trauma center, a patient with a trauma immediately receives treatment. It depends on the severity of the fracture, which, in turn, is due to the size of the broken bones, as well as their number.

It should be specially noted that multiple fractures of tubular bones (large) very often lead to traumatic shock and development of severe blood loss. However, on time turning to a free or paid trauma center, such pathologies can be avoided. By the way, patients after receiving such injuries are restored very slowly. Their recovery period may take several months.

Consolidated fracture - what is it?

The term "consolidation" is of Latin origin. It consists of two syllables that translate as "together" and "strengthen." In other words, consolidation means: uniting, strengthening, integrating or uniting something.

So is this a consolidated fracture? Specialists say that this is a medical term, which means a fusion with a formation of bone callus.

The ideal and complete fusion of an injured skeleton occurs in the following cases:

• With good fixation of broken bones;
• With a complete and ideal comparison of bone fragments;
• When restoring blood circulation in the area of bone damage;
• When restoring or maintaining innervation in the area of bone tissue damage.

Secondary fusion

Secondary fusion of fractures with the formation of cartilaginous calluses occurs when:

• Incomplete comparison of parts of bone fragments;
• Poor fixation of the fracture;
• Relative mobility of bone fragments;
• Untimely immobilization;
• Violation of blood circulation, as well as innervation in the area of bone fracture.

Why does not the fracture grow together?

The surgeon, the traumatologist - these experts can answer a question on why in some cases a fracture of a bone does not grow together. According to them, this phenomenon has several causes. Imagine them right now:

• Violation of immobilization of bone (damaged), as well as displacement of its elements relative to each other;
• Incomplete or incorrect comparison of bone fragments;
• Violation of innervation in the area of fracture and local circulation.

Traumatologist on the house leaves only in extremely severe cases. It is very important that the specialist be literate. After all, with serious fractures, it is necessary to combine damaged bone tissues so that their complete consolidation takes place. However, it should be noted that such fusion does not depend only on the qualifications of the doctor. After all, all layers of bone tissue (for example, endost, periosteum and Havers canals) should be included in the regeneration process.

One can not help saying that together with the natural physiological processes of restoring the integrity of the skeleton, there is also a resolution of the post-traumatic hematoma. By the way, the bone callus during regeneration has the appearance of a small spindle-shaped thickening.

Periods of formation and layers of callus

Consolidated fracture of the ribs and other parts of the skeleton - a fairly common phenomenon. In the process of bone restoration, a callus is formed.

This regeneration takes place in three periods:

• The development of inflammation (aseptic) in the place of fracture;
• Process of bone formation;
• Restructuring of the callus.

Thus, in the place of trauma in humans, the cells of the Haversian canals and the endostom, as well as the connective tissue and the periosteum, are intensively multiplied. This process leads to the formation of a callus on the fracture site. It consists of four layers:

• Parasitic;
• Intermediate;
• Periosteal;
• endosteal.

After 5-6 days after the direct injury, the defect between bone fragments begins to be filled with fibroblasts, osteoblast cells and small vessels that form an osteoid tissue.

It should also be noted that there are 3 stages of bone callus formation. They include:

• Fibrotic;
• Cartilaginous;
• Bone.

How long does the callus form?

The formation of the bone callus is a rather lengthy process. The terms of its formation are as follows:

1. Primary (lasts 4-5 weeks).
2. Secondary (after 5-6 weeks).

It should also be noted that corn at the site of the fracture has undergone a restructuring for several years. This is due to the fact that osteoblasts contribute to the resorption of the ends of bone fragments, fragments and fragments, and also eliminate excessive formation of corn.

In the event that the traumatologist, the home caused, as well as the patient himself, have created all the optimal conditions for the coalescence of the bone elements, then the fracture consolidates (within a few weeks or months).

How long do bones grow together? According to the experts, the older the person, the worse his recovery. For example, a fracture of the neck of the thigh can pin an old man to bed, provoking complications such as congestive pneumonia, pulmonary embolism, pressure sores, and others.

Why is consolidation slowing down?

Not always and not all people have bone fractures to grow together quickly and without any consequences. In some cases, the consolidation of the injured area is significantly slowed down. What is the reason for this phenomenon?

To the general causes of delayed bone growth belong the following:

• Diabetes mellitus, thin bones, disruption of the parathyroid glands;
• Old age, female sex, ovarian cyst, malnutrition;
• Exhaustion, multiple pregnancies, stress;
• Low growth, intake of certain medicines, dysmenorrhea;
• Oncology, smoking, distant ovaries, transplantation of internal organs and so on.

As for local reasons, they include:

• Infection in the wound;
• Circulatory disturbance;
• Severe crushing of soft tissues during trauma;
• Multiple fractures;
• Getting foreign objects into the wound;
• Interposition of tissues and others.

Treatment of fractures

What to do in case of a fracture and how to achieve rapid bone growth? First of all, you need to see a doctor. When the bones are displaced, the doctor must fix them and fix them in this position by applying a gypsum.

What should I do if I have a fracture? To fracture fused faster, experts recommend taking anabolic hormones and mummies. Physiotherapy and the impact on trauma by an electromagnetic field are also permissible.

The consequences of improper treatment

Consolidated fracture is the best outcome of a person's trauma. However, it should be noted that in the absence of proper treatment, consolidation may not occur or slow down.

Experts say that the signs of slow bone growth are the following:

• Mobility (pathological) bones at the site of the fracture;
• Severe pain in the area of injury;
• Gap between bone fragments, noticeable during X-ray examination.

It should also be noted that in childhood, the process of recovery and regeneration of damaged bone tissue is faster and easier than in older and older people. Very often the wrong fusion of the skeleton leads to the formation of a false joint. Such articulations can give rise to a number of serious health problems, as well as causing aesthetic discomfort.