Fracture Center - Sun City, AZWebMD Physician DirectorySun City, ArizonaUpcoming Local Events2012-07-14
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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 Sun City
Nearby Sun City Hospitals * Banner Boswell Medical Center  HEALTHSOUTH Valley of the Sun Rehabilitation Hospital  Arrowhead Hospital  Banner Thunderbird Medical Center  Banner Del E Webb Medical Center  Banner Estrella Medical Center  Maryvale Hospital Medical Center  West Valley Hospital  John C Lincoln Hospital Deer Valley  Surgical Specialty Hospital of Arizona  Phoenix Baptist Hospital  John C Lincoln Hospital North Mountain  Kindred Hospital Phoenix  Select Specialty Hospital Phoenix  St Joseph's Hospital & Medical Center  Carl T Hayden VA Medical Center  Phoenix Indian Medical Center  Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center  Banner Good Samaritan Rehabilitation  Select Specialty Hospital Phoenix Downtown  Phoenix Memorial Health Care Center  Promise Hospital of Phoenix  Arizona Heart Hospital  Phoenix Children's Hospital  Los Ninos Hospital  Paradise Valley Hospital  Youth Development Institute  St Luke's Behavioral Health Center  St Luke's Medical Center  Maricopa Medical Center  Arizona State Hospital  Mayo Clinic Hospital  Scottsdale Healthcare Thompson Peak  Scottsdale Healthcare Osborn  Select Specialty Hospital Scottsdale  Banner Behavioral Health Hospital  Scottsdale Healthcare Shea  Kindred Hospital Scottsdale  HEALTHSOUTH Scottsdale Rehabilitation Hospital  Tempe St Luke's Hospital  Banner Desert Medical Center  Desert Vista Hospital  Arizona Orthopedic Surgical Hospital  Chandler Regional 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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