Fracture Center - San Clemente, CAWebMD Physician DirectorySan Clemente, CaliforniaUpcoming Local Events2012-06-03
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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 San Clemente
Nearby San Clemente Hospitals * Saddleback Memorial Medical Center San Clemente  Mission Hospital Laguna Beach  Children's Hospital of Orange County at Mission  Mission Hospital  Saddleback Memorial Medical Center Laguna Hills  Kaiser Permanente Orange County Irvine Medical Center  Fallbrook Hospital  Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian  College Hospital Costa Mesa  Inland Valley Medical Center  Tustin Hospital & Medical Center  Tri-City Medical Center  Coastal Communities Hospital  HEALTHSOUTH Tustin Rehabilitation Hospital  Rancho Springs Medical Center  Western Medical Center Santa Ana  Fountain Valley Regional Hospital & Medical Center  Orange Coast Memorial Medical Center  Chapman Medical Center  HealthBridge Children's Rehabilitation Hospital  Kindred Hospital Santa Ana  Children's Hospital Orange County  St Joseph Hospital  Huntington Beach Hospital  Garden Grove Hospital & Medical Center  University Of California Irvine Medical Center  Corona Regional Medical Center Rehabilitation  Corona Regional Medical Center  Kaiser Permanente Anaheim Medical Center  Kindred Hospital Westminster  Western Medical Center Anaheim  Menifee Valley Medical Center  Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas  Encinitas Nursing & Rehabilitation  Kaiser Permanente Riverside Medical Center  Anaheim Regional Medical Center  Placentia-Linda Hospital  Vista Hospital of Riverside 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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