Fractures Specialist

Woodlands Center For Special Surgery

Top Hand Surgeon, Foot and Ankle Surgeon, and Trusted Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine Specialists, including expert Podiatrists, located in The Woodlands and Willis, TX.

Some fractures leave no doubt you need immediate attention, but fractures can masquerade as severe sprains or other problems, which means you may wait to see a doctor. Dr. Mark Ciaglia, DO, Dr. William J. Jordan, MD, Dr. Hemali Patel, DPM, and the team at the Woodlands Center for Special Surgery in The Woodlands and Willis, Texas, are experts in fractures and they encourage you to come in any time you have bruising and pain. Prompt treatment helps ensure proper healing and a return to optimal strength. To schedule an appointment, call the office or book an appointment online today.

Fractures Q & A

What are the most common causes of fractures?

The three primary causes of fractures are:

Trauma

When your bones are healthy, it takes a high force or impact to cause a fracture. These fractures are generally caused by sports injuries, car accidents, falls, or a severe ankle twist.

Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis makes your bones so weak and brittle that they can break without significant force. You could break a bone while bending over or coughing.

Compression fractures occur in the spine when osteoporosis makes vertebrae too weak to support your body. As a result, the vertebrae begin to flatten or compress.

Overuse

Overuse injuries cause stress fractures, which are tiny cracks in your bones. The weight-bearing bones in your legs and feet are most susceptible to stress fractures.

What symptoms will I develop from a fracture?

When you break a bone, pain along with limited or no ability to use the bone are the first symptoms you’ll develop. You’ll also experience bruising and swelling and you may notice a deformity.

A deformity may simply look like the bone is out of place, or it could be so severe that the bone has broken through your skin.

Are there different types of fractures?

These are a few examples of the different types of fractures:

Stable fracture: broken ends of the bone line up
Open or compound fracture: you have an open wound in the skin near the fracture
Transverse fracture: horizontal fracture line in the bone
Oblique fracture: bone breaks in an angled pattern
Comminuted fracture: bone shatters into three or more pieces

The type of break determines the best course of treatment for your fracture.

How are fractures treated?

The doctors at the Woodlands Center for Special Surgery treat all fractures anywhere in your body. After performing diagnostic imaging in the office, they can determine the type of fracture and the best treatment.

Fractures are always immobilized using a cast or brace. The two ends of the bone must be held in place or they won’t heal properly. If your bones are slightly out of alignment, your doctor may use traction to gently pull them into their proper position.

For severe fractures, your doctor performs surgery called open reduction and internal fixation, which repositions the bones and stabilizes them with screws or plates. If you need surgery, your doctor fully explains the procedure and takes time to answer your questions.

To receive immediate care for a fracture, call the team at the Woodlands Center for Special Surgery or use online booking to check for available appointments.