Fracture Center - Penn Hills, PAWebMD Physician DirectoryPenn Hills, PennsylvaniaUpcoming Local Events2012-06-02
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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 Penn Hills
Nearby Penn Hills Hospitals * HEALTHSOUTH Harmarville Rehabilitation Hospital  UPMC St Margaret  VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System  LifeCare Hospitals of Pittsburgh Main Campus  Transitional Infant Care Hospital  The Children's Institute  UPMC Shadyside  Western Pennsylvania Hospital  UPMC Braddock  The Western Pennsylvania Hospital Forbes Regional Campus  HEALTHSOUTH Hospital of Pittsburgh  Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh  UPMC Presbyterian  Magee-Womens Hospital  UPMC Mercy  UPMC Southside  Allegheny General Hospital  Kindred Hospital Pittsburgh North Shore  Alle-Kiski Medical Center  Select Specialty Hospital McKeesport  UPMC McKeesport  UPMC Passavant  Allegheny General Hospital Suburban Campus  LifeCare Hospitals of Pittsburgh North Campus  Jefferson Regional Medical Center  Ohio Valley General Hospital  St Clair Hospital  Westmoreland Excela Health Hospital at Jeannette  Heritage Valley Sewickley Hospital  UPMC Passavant Cranberry  Mayview State Hospital  Southwood Psychiatric Hospital  HEALTHSOUTH Rehabilitation Hospital of Sewickley  Westmoreland Regional Hospital  Kindred Hospital Pittsburgh  Monongahela Valley Hospital  Butler Memorial Hospital  Canonsburg General Hospital  ACMH Hospital  Butler VA Medical Center  Latrobe Area Hospital  Select Specialty Hospital Greensburg  Frick Hospital  Kindred Hospital at Heritage Valley  Medical Center of Beaver  Torrance State Hospital  The Washington Hospital  Ellwood City 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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Osteoporosis
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