Fracture Center - Racine, WIWebMD Physician DirectoryRacine, WisconsinUpcoming Local Events2012-05-31
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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 Racine
Nearby Racine Hospitals * All Saints St Luke's Memorial Hospital  All Saints St Mary's Medical Center  Children's Hospital of Wisconsin Kenosha  United Hospital System Kenosha Medical Center Campus  United Hospital System St Catherine's Campus  Aurora Medical Center  Aurora St Luke's South Shore  Midwestern Regional Medical Center  Lakeview Specialty Hospital & Rehabilitation  Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare St Francis  Aurora St Luke's Medical Center  Kindred Hospital Milwaukee  Clement J Zablocki VA Medical Center  Select Specialty Hospital Milwaukee  West Allis Memorial Hospital  Aurora Sinai Medical Center  Rogers Memorial Hospital  Columbia St Mary's Milwaukee Campus  Vista Medical Center East  Children's Hospital of Wisconsin  Froedtert Hospital  Aurora Psychiatric Hospital  The Wisconsin Heart Hospital  Columbia St Mary's Columbia Campus  Sacred Heart Rehabilitation Institute  Orthopaedic Hospital of Wisconsin  Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Division  Vista Medical Center West  Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare St Joseph  Aurora Memorial Hospital of Burlington  North Chicago VA Medical Center  Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare Elmbrook Memorial  Waukesha Memorial Hospital  Rehabilitation Hospital of Wisconsin  Community Memorial Hospital  Lake Forest Hospital  Condell Medical Center  Aurora Lakeland Medical Center  LifeCare Hospitals of Wisconsin 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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