Fracture Center - East Providence, RIWebMD Physician DirectoryEast Providence, Rhode IslandUpcoming 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 East Providence
Nearby East Providence Hospitals * Hasbro Children's Hospital  Rhode Island Hospital  Bradley Hospital  Butler Hospital  Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island  The Miriam Hospital  Southern New England Rehabilitation Center  St Joseph Health Services  Providence VA Medical Center  Roger Williams Medical Center  Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island  Our Lady of Fatima Hospital  Eleanor Slater Hospital Pastore Center  Arbour-Fuller Hospital  Kent Hospital  Sturdy Memorial Hospital  Rehabilitation Hospital of Rhode Island  Charlton Memorial Hospital  Saint Anne's Hospital  Landmark Medical Center  Taunton State Hospital  Morton Hospital & Medical Center  Newport Hospital  New Bedford Rehabilitation Hospital  Milford Regional Medical Center  Eleanor Slater Hospital Zambarano Unit  Boston VA Healthcare System Brockton  Kindred Specialty Hospital Stoughton  Caritas Good Samaritan Medical Center  St Luke's Hospital  New England Sinai Hospital & Rehabilitation Center  Signature Healthcare Brockton Hospital  Caritas Norwood Hospital  South County Hospital  Massachusetts Hospital School  Westwood Lodge Hospital  Day Kimball Hospital  Hubbard Regional Hospital  Kindred Specialty Hospital Braintree  Braintree Rehabilitation Hospital  Kindred Specialty Hospital Natick  MetroWest Medical Center Leonard Morse Hospital  MetroWest Medical Center Framingham Union Hospital  Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital Needham  South Shore Hospital  Whittier Rehabilitation Hospital Westborough  VA Boston Healthcare System West Roxbury Campus  Milton Hospital  Tobey Hospital  Bournewood Hospital  Quincy Medical Center 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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Osteoporosis
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Coccydynia
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