Fracture Center - Stratford, CTWebMD Physician DirectoryStratford, ConnecticutUpcoming Local Events2012-05-29
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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 Stratford
Nearby Stratford Hospitals * Bridgeport Hospital  Greater Bridgeport Community Mental Health Center  Milford Hospital  St Vincent's Medical Center  Griffin Hospital  VA Connecticut Healthcare System West Haven Campus  Hall-Brooke Behavioral Health Services  Hospital of St Raphael  Connecticut Mental Health Center  Yale-New Haven Psychiatric Hospital  Yale-New Haven Hospital  Norwalk Hospital  Silver Hill Hospital  St Charles Hospital  John T Mather Memorial Hospital  Stony Brook University Medical Center  Danbury Hospital  Northport VA Medical Center  Gaylord Hospital  Masonic Healthcare Center  St Catherine of Siena Medical Center  Stamford Hospital  St Mary's Hospital  Waterbury Hospital  Four Winds Hospital  Huntington Hospital  Greenwich Hospital  Pilgrim Psychiatric Center  The Hospital of Central Connecticut Bradley Campus  MidState Medical Center  New Milford Hospital  Peconic Bay Medical Center  Brookhaven Memorial Hospital Medical Center  Putnam Hospital Center  Northern Westchester Hospital Center  Sagamore Children's Psychiatric Center  Southside Hospital  Rye Hospital Center  Syosset Hospital  St Vincent's Hospital Westchester  Glen Cove Hospital  Bristol Hospital  Plainview Hospital  New York Presbyterian Westchester  The Burke Rehabilitation Hospital  White Plains Hospital 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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