Your bones are one of the hardest substances in your body, second only to tooth enamel. Unlike tooth enamel, bones are living tissue, and they can grow and heal when they are damaged. Under certain circumstances, a bone will break or fracture, and may even require urgent care. In many situations, X-rays are used to determine the extent of the damage.

An X-ray shows where the break or fracture is located. A bone break can occur on the shaft or center of the bone, such as in the case of some broken arm or leg injuries. A break can also be located near the end of a bone but not include the joint, or it can include the joint and be located on the tip of the bone. Sometimes these types of breaks also affect the cartilage.

Misalignment of the bone can be observed on an X-ray. Some breaks leave the bone aligned perfectly, while others may cause the bones to shift completely out of place. In many situations, the X-ray is one of the best diagnostic tools for determining how bad the break is and what type of treatment will be needed to provide optimum healing.

Some breaks may require additional imaging tools to adequately determine the damage. This can be the case with wrist fractures. X-rays do not always show hip fractures in older adults. A CT scan may be the imaging of choice in a situation where the skull is fractured.

Pathologic Fractures

Some individuals may have conditions that weaken the bones. This can be due to a disease that disrupts the normal remodeling of a bone, like osteoporosis. Old bone tissue is reabsorbed by the body faster than new bone is generated. This causes the bone to become weak and brittle.

Cysts caused by bone cancer or non-cancerous infections can also cause weak bones. Unspecified abnormalities called lesions also cause weakened bones. Lesions can be the result of bone damage or previous injury to the bone.

If you have been injured and are experiencing pain or swelling, you could have a broken or fractured bone. Contact Dr. Michael and come in for an exam of the injured area. An X-ray may reveal a break or fracture that needs attention.