Blog Post

A broken bone, or fracture, is an abnormal break in a bone or bone structure. The symptoms depend on the type and location of the broken bone. Treatment for a broken bone involves fixing the bone in its normal position until the fracture heals. 

If you think you might have a broken bone, visit us at Houston Medical ER in Houston and Spring, Texas. Our top-rated specialists provide rapid and effective pain relief and treatment for broken bones to get you on the road to recovery as quickly as possible.

Bones are among the hardest and most resilient tissues in your body, but they can break if they’re stressed beyond their limit. 

What causes broken bones?

Sports-related broken bones are common in running sports. A stress fracture occurs as a result of the permanent overloading of a bone. Some other typical causes of broken bones include:

• Falling
• A hit or impact
• Compression
• Twisting
• Extreme tensile force

It takes little pressure or stress to break a bone if it’s already weakened due to a preexisting condition like osteoporosis or a bone tumor. Even a slight twist or impact can lead to a fracture. 

Broken bone symptoms

Broken bone symptoms usually include pain and swelling. You may notice other obvious signs like deformity, restricted movement, or bone protruding from the skin. Depending on the extent of the soft-tissue injury, you might experience other symptoms like open wounds and bleeding. 

Some signs of a broken bone may leave you feeling uncertain, like: 

• Movement pain
• Loss of function
• Improper mobility
• Crunching or grinding sound during movement

Symptoms depend on the type and location of your broken bone. With a stress fracture, the injury isn’t usually as acute and pronounced as a fresh fracture caused by an accident. It’s not uncommon to first suspect a minor injury like a sprain or bruise. 

How we treat broken bones

When you arrive at Houston Medical ER, we prioritize pain relief to make you feel more comfortable.

We check your temperature, pulse, blood pressure, and other vital signs. After that, we complete a physical assessment to determine the severity of the broken bone. You might need a CT scan, X-rays, an MRI, or other imaging procedures.

In general, the treatment of broken bones consists of returning the broken bones to their normal position, immobilizing them until the break heals, and restoring the function of the bone.

Your treatment depends on the type of fracture, location, injury severity, and your condition. 

If you suspect a broken bone, visit us at one of our emergency rooms in Houston and Spring, Texas. You never need an appointment at Houston Medical ER, so you can walk in or call at any time.