Fracture Center - The Woodlands, TXWebMD Physician DirectoryThe Woodlands, TexasUpcoming 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 The Woodlands
Nearby The Woodlands Hospitals * Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Hospital  Nexus Specialty Hospital Woodlands Campus  St Luke's Community Medical Center The Woodlands  Nexus Specialty Hospital Shenandoah Campus  HEALTHSOUTH North Houston Rehabilitation Hospital  Conroe Regional Medical Center  Select Specialty Hospital Conroe  HEALTHSOUTH Hospital of Houston  Triumph Hospital Northwest  Cypress Creek Hospital  IntraCare North Hospital  TOPS Surgical Specialty Hospital  Houston Northwest Medical Center  Tomball Regional Medical Center  Triumph Hospital Tomball  Methodist Willowbrook Hospital  Memorial Hermann Northeast  HEALTHSOUTH Humble Rehabilitation Hospital  Kingwood Medical Center  Cypress Fairbanks Medical Center Hospital  Kindred Hospital Northwest  North Cypress Medical Center  Triumph Hospital North Houston  Doctors Hospital Parkway  Renaissance Hospital Houston  Doctors Hospital of Tidwell  Memorial Hermann Northwest Hospital  Select Specialty Hospital Houston Heights  Spring Branch Medical Center  Lyndon B Johnson General Hospital  Cleveland Regional Medical Center  Select Specialty Hospital Houston West  Twelve Oaks Medical Center River Oaks Campus  Triumph Hospital Town & Country  Memorial Hermann Memorial City Hospital  Dubuis Hospital of Houston  Triumph Hospital Houston Central  St Joseph Medical Center  Riverside General Hospital  HEALTHSOUTH Hospital for Specialized Surgery  Healthbridge Children's Hospital of Houston  Park Plaza Hospital and Medical Center  Plaza Specialty Hospital  West Houston Medical Center  CHRISTUS St Catherine Hospital  Memorial Hermann Hospital  Kindred Hospital Houston  Select Specialty Hospital Houston Medical Center  Ben Taub General Hospital  The Methodist Hospital  Cornerstone Hospital of Houston at Bellaire  Texas Children's Hospital  University of Texas Harris County Psychiatric Center  West Oaks Hospital  Memorial Herman The Institute for Rehabilitation & Research  Shriners Hospitals for Children  St Luke's Episcopal Hospital  Harris Quentin Mease Community Hospital  Michael E DeBakey VA Medical Center  University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center  Texas Orthopedic Hospital  Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital  Riveroaks Medical Center Sharpstown Campus  University General Hospital  The Woman's Hospital of Texas  IntraCare Medical Center Hospital  Memorial Hermann Southwest Hospital  Triumph Hospital East Houston  East Houston Regional Medical Center  Harris County Hospital District  Texas Specialty Hospital  Kindred Hospital Bay Area 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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