These fractures heal more slowly than other types of bone fractures. Once the bone breaks and there is an open wound the muscles contract and move the bones side by side making realigning them difficult. Once the surgery is completed patients find that regaining full function, the goal of treatment, takes weeks longer than with a simple fracture. Muscles, tendons, soft tissue, skin and bone are all affected and require time to heal effectively.
Many times the surgical procedure performed is called an open reduction with internal fixation. These terms mean that the reduction – or pulling the bones together appropriately – is done as an open procedure under surgery. The internal fixation appliances are rods or plates used to give stability to the bones while they heal.
While compound fractures aren’t as common as simple fractures they require more immediate attention, more intense treatment and often develop other complications that can change the ultimate results. Knowing what to expect and how treatment may go will help patients to understand the length of time that is involved in the process. Compound fractures have been known to end careers such as Quarterback Joe Theismann whose career ending fracture happened on the playing field on national television.
Stress Fractures
Stress fractures are a whole other ball of wax, so to speak. Stress fractures are caused by undue stress being placed on the bone through the mechanical stressors of tendons and ligaments and not through impact with an immovable object.
Many times a stress fracture will be the final result of shin splints that aren’t cared for. Athletes who ignore the pain and discomfort of shin splints, believing that they can continue to work through the pain, will often end up with a split in the tibial bone that is a stress fracture.
The pain of stress fractures can be immediate or increase over a short period of time. These fractures aren’t visible on x-ray because of the positioning of the fracture but do become apparent as they begin to heal as new calcium is laid down.
