Fracture Center - Saint Clair Shores, MIWebMD Physician DirectorySaint Clair Shores, MichiganUpcoming 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 Saint Clair Shores
Nearby Saint Clair Shores Hospitals * Henry Ford Macomb Hospital Warren Campus  St John North Shores Hospital  St John Hospital & Medical Center  St John Macomb-Oakland Hospital Macomb Center  Henry Ford Cottage Hospital  Mount Clemens Regional Medical Center  Henry Ford Macomb Mount Clemens  Select Specialty Hospital Macomb  Beaumont Hospital Grosse Pointe Campus  Henry Ford Macomb Hospital  St John Macomb-Oakland Hospital Oakland Center  Southeast Michigan Surgical Hospital  DMC Surgery Hospital  Henry Ford Kingswood Hospital  Detroit Receiving Hospital  Children's Hospital of Michigan  John D Dingell VA Medical Center  Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute  Harper University Hospital  Henry Ford Hospital  Hutzel Women's Hospital  Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan  William Beaumont Hospital Troy  Harbor Oaks Hospital  William Beaumont Hospital Royal Oak  Select Specialty Hospital Northwest Detroit  Sinai-Grace Hospital  Oakland Regional Hospital  St John Providence Hospital Southfield  Crittenton Hospital Medical Center  Straith Hospital For Special Surgery  St Joseph Mercy Oakland Hospital  Havenwyck Hospital  Vibra Hospital of Southeast Michigan  Oakwood Hospital & Medical Center  Select Specialty Hospital Pontiac  Botsford Hospital  POH Regional Medical Center  Doctors' Hospital of Michigan  Henry Ford Wyandotte Hospital  Garden City Hospital  St Mary Mercy Livonia Hospital  Oakwood Heritage Hospital  Walter P Reuther Psychiatric Hospital  Hawthorn Center  Oakwood Annapolis Hospital  St John River District Hospital  Oakwood Southshore Medical Center  Huron Valley-Sinai Hospital  St John Providence Park 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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