Fracture Center - Allentown, PAWebMD Physician DirectoryAllentown, PennsylvaniaUpcoming Local Events2012-05-26
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FractureIntroduction to fractureBones form the skeleton of the body and allow the body to be supported against gravity and to move and function in the world. Bones also protect some body parts, and the bone marrow is the production center for blood products. Bone is not a stagnant organ. It is the body's reservoir of calcium and is always undergoing change under the influence of hormones. Parathyroid hormone increases blood calcium levels by leeching calcium from bone, while calcitonin has the opposite effect, allowing bone to accept calcium from the blood.
What causes a fracture?When outside forces are applied to bone it has the potential to fail. Fractures occur when bone cannot withstand those outside forces. Fracture, break, or crack all mean the same thing. One term is not better or worse than another. The integrity of the bone has been lost and the bone structure fails. Broken bones hurt for a variety of reasons including:
Often a fracture is easy to detect because there is obvious deformity. However, at times it is not easily diagnosed. It is important for the physician to take a history of the injury to decide what potential problems might exist. Moreover, fractures don't always occur in isolation, and there may be associated injuries that need to be addressed. Fractures can occur because of direct blows, twisting injuries, or falls. The type of forces on the bone may determine what type of injury that occurs. Descriptions of fractures can ... Recommended Reading Related to FractureWhat is osteoporosis?Osteoporosis is a condition that is characterized by bones that are less dense than, and thus not as strong as, normal bone. Osteoporosis increases the risk of breaking bone (fracture) with even minor trauma, such as a fall from standing height, or even from a cough or sneeze. Unfortunately, people often do not realize they have osteoporosis until either they have a fracture or have a screening test ordered by their doctor to check for osteoporosis. Osteoporosis and low bone mass affect an estimated 44 million Americans (National Osteoporosis Foundation 2008). Of those, 10 million have osteoporosis, and the remaining 34 million have a lower than normal bone mass and are at higher risk of developing osteoporosis. Women are four times more likely to develop osteoporosis than men. Other risk factors include older age, family history of osteoporosis, small and thin stature, inactive lifestyle, smoking, alcohol, and use of certain medications in... Other Related Fracture ArticlesEmergency Contact for Allentown
Nearby Allentown Hospitals * Lehigh Valley Hospital 17th & Chew Streets  Sacred Heart Hospital  Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Hospital Allentown  St Luke's Hospital Allentown Campus  Allentown State Hospital  Lehigh Valley Hospital Cedar Crest  St Luke's Hospital Bethlehem Campus  Westfield Hospital  Lehigh Valley Hospital Muhlenberg Center  Good Shepherd Home Bethlehem  KidsPeace Children's Hospital  St Luke's Quakertown Hospital  Easton Hospital  Triumph Hospital Easton  Blue Mountain Health System Palmerton Campus  Warren Hospital  Grand View Hospital  Blue Mountain Health System Gnaden Huetten Campus  Pottstown Memorial Medical Center  Central Montgomery Medical Center  Foundations Behavioral Health  Doylestown Hospital  St Luke's Miners Memorial Hospital  Senator Garret W Hagedorn Psychiatric Hospital  St Joseph Medical Center  Eagleville Hospital  Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Hospital at Pocono Medical Center  Pocono Medical Center  The Reading Hospital & Medical Center  Valley Forge Medical Center & Hospital  HEALTHSOUTH Reading Rehabilitation Hospital  Hunterdon Medical Center  Montgomery County Emergency Service  Mercy Suburban Hospital  Phoenixville Hospital  Norristown State Hospital  Horsham Clinic  Montgomery Hospital  Brooke Glen Behavioral Hospital Featured Articles*Provider Directory Terms of Use: The WebMD 'Provider Directory' is provided by WebMD for use by the general public as a quick reference of information about Providers. The Provider Directory is not intended as a tool for verifying the credentials, qualifications, or abilities of any Provider contained therein. Inclusion in the Provider Directory does not imply recommendation or endorsement nor does omission in the Provider Directory imply WebMD disapproval. |
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