What is a pathological fracture?

Pathological fracture is a violation of the integrity of bone in place of the pathologically changed structure. The reason it usually is injury to a small force which would be insufficient to break a healthy bone.

The causes of pathological changes of bone structure

Excess of parathormone (hormone of the parathyroid glands responsible for calcium in bones) leads to changes in bone structure, lower density and, consequently, bone strength. This condition occurs when paratiisi, tumors of the parathyroid glands.

Malignant bone tumor leads to a change in its entire structure. This causes increased fragility. The emergence of pathological fractures may be the first symptom of the formation of a tumor of the bone.

Osteomyelitis is a violation of the structure of the bone. In this pathology is the infection. Leukocytes, which are designed to fight infection, secrete lytic enzymes, disintegrating the bone. Over the affected area of bone is formed additional layer. The result is not only a change in bone structure, but also its deformation. This can be the area of arthroplasty, former fractures, any bone injury complicated her infection. Often osteomyelitis is localized in the bones of the legs, shoulders, vertebrae, bones of the upper jaw.

Osteoporosis is a disruption of the structure is more typical for women after 40 and men after 50. Is a metabolic disease of the entire skeletal system. It is a violation of metabolic processes in bone tissue, causing the destruction of her prevails over the recovery process. This reduces the weight of the bone due to the formation of voids. This leads to a reduction of strength and increased brittleness.

Women in menopause are susceptible to osteoporosis more than men. The fact that women for bone strength, meet female sex hormones, and decreasing their synthesis suffers from the bone tissue.

On x-ray can diagnose osteoporosis, if the bone tissue has been reduced by 25-30%. Typical locations of fractures in osteoporotic changes is the distal part of the ulna, vertebrae, femoral neck. And the first incident fracture increases the risk of appearance of the second half, and the second is the risk of the third five times.

Given the changes in the structure of bones, pathologic fractures in osteoporotic bone long and poorly fused. The result is a significant percentage of disability.

Signs of pathologicalfracture

The main symptoms are exactly the same as any fracture

• the pain of different intensity;
• dysfunction of the injured extremity;
• deformation of the limb;
• abnormal mobility at the injury site;
• the crepitation of bone fragments.

A sharp pain occurs immediately upon injury. She is saved when moving the injured limb. Pain reduction occurs when comparing fragments. However, vertebral fractures are not always accompanied by intense pain.

The severity of dysfunction also varies. So, when a hip fracture is impossible to even move my leg. And when the options of impacted fracture of the humerus function persists. This signs are out of date and when fracture of one of the paired bones (fibula, metacarpal).

Bone deformation is a displacement of fragments. However, subperiosteal fractures such sign is not typical. It may be omitted due to a large hematoma over the fracture.

Another manifestation is abnormal mobility at the site of injury. But this sign can be very pronounced and even absent in fractures in the joints.

Crepitus can only take place when full displacement of fragments.

Diagnosis of injuries

Absolutely informative and inexpensive method is x-ray examination. It allows you to establish an accurate diagnosis.

Pictures tend to make two projections, with visualization of the two joints.

When the diagnosis is of great importance to life history and a history of fractures, their number, age of the patient, if he took chondroprotectors and calcium.

Sometimes because of the insignificance of the injury, some patients even believe that the presence of fracture. This leads to late visits to doctors when treatment is more problematic. Some are genuinely surprised to learn that it took place.

Pathological fractures of the spine

Most often thus omitted fractures of the vertebral body. But they are the most dangerous.

The odontoid fracture leads to disruption of the entire spine, infringement of nerve endings, blood vessels, contractures, muscular corset of a backbone.

The patient may complain of disturbance of sensation in the extremities. It is the result of pinching their innervating nerve branches emerging from the spine in the damaged vertebra.

Perhaps the decline of muscle strength, feeling of “pins and needles”. Often, but not always complain and pain in the areainjury.

The main directions of therapeutic tactics

Treatment is similar to treatment strategy with conventional fractures. However, given the longer-term process of fusion of bone, showing the application of devices allowing the patient to move about even with prolonged healing and the need for immobilization. Used the Ilizarov apparatus, Shevtsova.

Of great importance is the identification and treatment of causes of bone changes. Osteomyelitis requires the appointment of a strong, isotropic to the bone tissue of antibiotics.

The presence of a tumor requires its removal or other methods of treatment of malignant tumors. Osteoporotic changes additionally appointed drugs that promote the substitution of bone tissue mineralization.

Pathological fracture in babies

Pathological fractures in children occur on the background of disorders of bone formation, dysplasia, cartilage and fibrous tissue, inflammatory bone diseases, avitaminosis.

In the congenital weakness of the bones in the kids they break under very small load. For example, when diapering the baby. Have older kids injuries occur when you try to sit up, to stand up abruptly. Fractures in children are accompanied by pain even if successful, repositioning, and mobility and deformity of bones.

In the end, after multiple fractures of the bones are deformed. Often the old is deforming callus. Despite the lack of strength, children's fractures heal pretty quickly. However, weak muscles, the impossibility of absolute adaptation of the bone fragments, excessive mobility of callus at the site of an injury contribute to the formation of deformities.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WdiAGa8XamA

When diagnosing this view shows the thin and delicate bones with a very sophisticated periosteum. Spongy structure is delicate, almost transparent. Clearly visible signs of past fractures and related deformation.

In case of insufficiency of vitamins D and C, leading to rickets and scurvy, the child also formed a pathologically fragile bone. Very little trauma contributes to fracture. Often suffer lower third of the thigh, the bones of the hands. The fracture can be skipped. Then with the development of bone deformity on radiographs revealed former fracture callus.

Treatment in children is to compare the wreckage, reliable mobilization. Despite the fact that the accretion of bone goes quickly, periods of mobilization increase.

The resulting callus will long be pathologically movable, which can lead to subsequent deformation of the bone, even when properly fused fractures.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-SSapyrgTFg

Be sureat the same time being the firming therapy. Apply multivitamins, calcium supplements. Watch your health and stay healthy.