A broken bone is called a fracture. In order for a fracture to heal, the bones must be held in the correct position and protected.
Soon after a fracture occurs, the body acts to protect the injured area, and forms a protective blood clot and callus around the fracture.
New "threads" of bone cells start to grow on both sides of the fracture line. These threads grow toward each other.
The fracture closes and the callus is absorbed. Depending upon the type of fracture, this healing process may take its own course, sometimes upto a year.
The average recovery period for a bone fracture is 6-8 weeks. However, that period can be longer or shorter depending on the location and type of fracture.
Compound fractures could take several more weeks or even months to heal completely.
Bone heals generally in two ways :
- Primary bone healing
- Secondary bone healing
Most fractures heal by secondary bone healing.
Methods to promote bone healing :
Stop smoking
Smoking slows down bone healing significantly, debate continues on the use of nicotine replacement, but on balance, it is better to use nicotine replacement than to continue smoking.
NSAIDs (Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories)
These are the best pain killers for bone pain and as such, we prescribe them when you have a fracture. They do however slow down bone healing. Don't use them thinking they are speeding up the healing process and avoid them if you can control your pain in other ways, eg. rest and elevation (see pain killers)
Potions and lotions
There are no real potions or lotions that have been scientifically proven to enhance bone healing. If you are well nourished and have a normal diet, no dietary supplements will help the healing process." You can eat as much goat's cheese, and drink as much milk as you like it will make no difference to the healing process.” Calcium supplementation is sometimes prescribed if you have osteoporosis not to speed up the healing process but to strengthen your bones to prevent further fractures.
Growth factors
There are several growth factors available and artificial bone substances that can speed up the healing process. Bone morphogenic protein (BMP), Platelet-rich plasma (PRP), Demineralized bone matrix (DBX), bone marrow injections, and artificial bone substances.
Introducing these substances means injecting them into the fracture site or cutting the skin and placing them at the fracture site. These are presently reserved for complex fractures, they are not quite experimental but similarly not a mainstream treatment for fractures.
Surgery
Surgery can speed up the healing process to a degree by bringing the fracture fragments to close together. We still rely on mother nature to ultimately heal the bone.
Surgery with internal or external fixation may stabilise the bones enough that although the bones are not healed the construct is strong enough to allow earlier return to function and optimal recovery.
However, surgery carries potential risks and complications.
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