How can a spiral fracture occur

Patients may also need to use crutches, walkers, or wheelchairs to protect the limb from stress and weight. Recovery can become painful but taking pain relievers is not ideal as they may slow down the healing process. Doctors usually prescribe acetaminophen with codeine to manage the pain. Spiral fracture healing time takes about months.

In severe cases, it may take as long as 18 months. Patients usually undergo physical therapy to regain full range of motion and strength. Having your arm or leg in a cast for months at a time can result in the loss of muscle mass and range of motion. With physical therapy, you undergo gradual limb exercises and strengthening exercises can help patients regain their strength.

How you react after an injury may affect the gravity of the incurred damage. If you suspect any kind of fracture, the first and most important step to take is to immobilize the body part.

Use any smooth and stable object, like a flat board, as a splint. Learning a few essential spiral fracture must-dos may also prevent it from worsening, making the treatment for it go more smoothly and efficiently:. Part of keeping your bones healthy is having healthy habits. Check out these healthy hacks to start your day strong! Recovery may be painful and difficult, but keep in mind that bones heal stronger than before. It is important for adults to consume a healthy mix of daily vitamins to keep their bones stable and strong.

We recommend this Vitamin D3 supplement. Do you have any other questions about a spiral fracture? Let us know in the comments section below! Up Next:. Your email address will not be published. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. A brace may replace the cast after a few weeks, as a brace can be removed for cleaning, physical therapy, and examination. A wheelchair, crutches, or a walker may also be necessary to limit the weight put on the limb.

For the first 48 hours after the splint and cast are applied, the limb should be elevated to heart level. Icing and elevation should be used periodically throughout the day as needed or directed by a doctor. Medications will be prescribed to help manage pain. A doctor will typically also prescribe antibioticsto prevent infection. Gradual weight-bearing activities may be appropriate 4 to 6 weeks after the injury. However, for severe cases, it often takes 12 or more weeks before the bone can begin to bear weight.

Reinforcing devices like rods and pins are usually removed between 3 and 6 months after surgery. Even after the cast or brace is removed, most people still need to limit movement in the affected limb. In the case of leg injuries, a walker or crutches may be used for a few weeks or months after casts or braces are removed.

In total, it often takes between 4 and 6 months for a full recovery from a spiral fracture. Severe injuries may take as long as 18 months to heal properly. If left untreated, a fracture can be life-threatening. Spiral fractures also increase the risk of developing additional health conditions.

Complications can also occur during surgery. Facebook Twitter Linkedin Instagram Tumblr. Spiral fractures also increase the risk of developing additional health conditions. Complications can also occur during surgery. There is no real way to prevent a spiral fracture. Most people experience the injury due to an accident or during sporting activities. Avoiding, preventing, or reducing these factors can, in turn, reduce the risk of a spiral fracture.

An avulsion fracture is when a tendon or ligament pulls a piece of fractured bone away. In this article, we look at the causes, treatments, and…. Hairline fractures are small cracks in a bone that occur after stress is placed on the lower leg. The condition can often happen to athletes. This MNT…. Find out what gives our bones their remarkable ability to heal breaks in a finely tuned process that involves stem cells, cartilage, and bone. A fracture is a break in the continuity of a bone.

There are many different types of fractures. We examine the facts about fractures in this article. X-rays may pose a small cancer risk, but their benefits far outweigh their risks, and they frequently save lives.

This article explains everything…. What to know about spiral fractures. Medically reviewed by William Morrison, M. What is a spiral fracture? Causes Symptoms Diagnosis Treatment Complications Prevention and risk factors A spiral fracture is a bone fracture that occurs when a long bone is broken by a twisting force.

These are commonly the result of sports injuries or falling from a short distance. While spiral fractures can occur in any long bone, they are most commonly found in the tibia. Greenstick fractures are another common type of fracture that happen in children, because of how soft their bones are. Your doctor will perform a full physical exam, focusing on the affected area.

They will check for obvious irregularities by both looking at and feeling the limb, such as:. X-rays can confirm that the bone is broken and show if the break is displaced or stable. CT scans can show your doctor if there is damage in nearby joints and provide additional information about the fracture. Because of the way in which a spiral fracture occurs, the resulting broken bone usually has jagged edges. This can complicate the healing process.

For these reasons, treatment will depend on the severity of the break and whether the bone is displaced or stable.

If the spiral fracture is stable, treatment will usually involve keeping the bone immobilized with a cast for a period of four to six weeks. A stable fracture is generally more common in children. Because of the jagged bones that characterize a displaced spiral fracture, more often than not surgery is required for treatment. Your doctor will perform what is known as an open reduction surgery.

In this procedure, you are put under general anesthesia. Next, your doctor opens up the affected area to set the parts of the bone in place. During the operation, your doctor continues to assess the severity of the injury. For example, if there is damage to the surrounding muscles or blood vessels, your doctor also evaluates and treat these injuries.