Trauma

How is a traumatic fracture different?

Not all fractures occur as the result of a trauma. In some cases, you can fracture a bone if you suffer from osteoporosis — a bone disorder that weakens your bones and makes them break more easily. You can also break a bone as a result of overuse. This type of break is called a stress fracture.

Fractures that occur as a result of trauma are often more complex, meaning you break more than one bone or you break a bone in multiple places. Traumatic fractures commonly happen to your legs and arms, including the hands, elbows, and shoulders, which are Dr. Oheb’s specialties.

What types of fractures can occur from trauma?

Depending on how severe the accident or how strong your bones are, you may experience any of the following types of fractures:

• Open, compound
• Oblique
• Stable
• Comminuted
• Displaced
• Segmented
• Compression

If you’re in a vehicle accident, for example, you could end up with an open, compound fracture in which a broken bone pierces your skin or the blow to your body causes the laceration. In some cases of an open, compound fracture, you may be able to see the bone protruding through your wound.

A stable fracture is the simplest kind, with the bone broken, but still in place, while in an oblique fracture the break is at an angle. In a segmented fracture, your bone breaks in two places, leaving one part of your bone floating, unattached to the other piece. A bone breaks into several pieces in a comminuted fracture, while the bones pieces have separated in a displaced fracture.

A compression fracture may occur in the event of a traumatic injury, most commonly in a spinal vertebra that collapses under the pressure of an impact. However, compression fractures usually occur in people with osteoporosis, where the trauma that causes the fracture may be as simple as a hard sneeze or lifting an object.

How are traumatic fractures treated?

Dr. Oheb treats your fracture based on the type and severity. With some traumatic fractures, you need surgery so he can put any broken pieces back where they need to go and stabilize your limb so you can heal. Dr. Oheb may also put you in a cast, sling, or splint, depending on the area of your body where the fracture occurred.

If your bones need extra support, such as in the case of a complex elbow, shoulder, or hand fracture, Dr. Oheb may use medical hardware like plates, pins, or screws to temporarily or permanently hold your bones together while you recover.

Dr. Oheb has two offices located conveniently in Los Angeles County and patients drive from all over just to see him. Patients travel from areas such as West Hills, Canoga Park, Winnetka, Reseda, Lake Balboa, Woodland Hills, Hidden Hills, Chatsworth, North Hills, Panorama City, Van Nuys, North Hollywood, Tarzana, Sherman Oaks, Studio City, Mission Hills, San Fernando, Granada Hills, Porter Ranch, Sylmar, Santa Clarita, Burbank, and Glendale.

After experiencing a trauma in which you fracture a bone, it’s important to seek immediate medical care from an expert orthopedic surgeon like Dr. Oheb, so you know you’re getting the best possible treatment. If you’re in the Encino and Mission Hills areas, call the office nearest you or book an appointment using the online system.