Prompt treatment for a broken bone is essential to promote proper healing and restore mobility. At All American Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Institute, our fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeons provide comprehensive fracture care for children and adults using advanced diagnostic and treatment techniques. Serving Houston, Clear Lake, Lake Jackson, and Kingwood, we offer personalized surgical and non-surgical care designed to relieve pain, stabilize fractures, and help you return safely to your daily activities.
Bone Fracture
A bone fracture is a medical condition in which a bone is cracked or broken. It is a break in the continuity of the bone. While many fractures are the result of high-force impact or stress, bone fractures can also occur because of certain medical conditions that weaken the bones, such as osteoporosis.
A fracture may be complete or partial and is commonly caused by trauma due to a fall, motor vehicle accident or sports injury. Thinning of the bone due to osteoporosis in the elderly can also cause bones to break easily. Overuse injuries are a common cause of stress fractures in athletes.
Types of fractures
Simple fracture: The fractured pieces of bone are well aligned and stable
Unstable fracture- the fragments of the broken bone are misaligned and displaced
Open (compound) fracture: Asevere fracture in which the broken bones protrude through the skin. This type of fracture is more prone to infection and requires immediate medical attention.
Greenstick fracture: Afracture unique to children, where one side of the bone is broken while the other is bent
Fracture Healing
Our body reacts to a fracture by protecting the injured area with a blood clot and callus or fibrous tissue. Bone cells begin forming on either side of the fracture line. These cells grow towards each other and eventually close the fracture.
Medical Therapy
The objective of early fracture management is to control bleeding, prevent ischemic injury (bone death) and to remove sources of infection such as foreign bodies and dead tissues. The next step is the reduction of the fracture and its maintenance. It is important to ensure that the involved part of the body returns to its function after the fracture heals. To achieve this, fracture reduction and immobilization are achieved by either a non-operative or surgical method.
Non-operative (closed) therapy uses casting and traction (skin and skeletal traction).
Casting
This is done for any fracture that is displaced, shortened, or angulated. Splints and casts are made of fiberglass or Plaster of Paris (POP) and are used to immobilize the limb.
Traction
This method is used for fractures and dislocations that cannot be treated by casting. There are two methods of traction: skin traction and skeletal traction.
Skin traction involves attachment of traction tapes to the skin of the limb segment below the fracture. In skeletal traction, a pin is inserted through the bone and attached to ropes. Weights are applied, and the patient is placed in a traction apparatus. This method is commonly used for fractures of long bones.
Surgical Therapy
Open Reduction and Internal Fixation (ORIF)
This is a surgical procedure in which the fracture site is exposed while a reduction of the fracture is done. Internal fixation is done with wires, plates, screws, and nails.
External fixation
This is a procedure in which the fracture stabilization is done outside the body using rods screwed into the bone above and below the fracture that exit the body and are attached to a stabilizer device that may be adjusted. It helps to maintain bone length and alignment without casting.
External fixation is performed in the following conditions:
- Open fractures with soft-tissue involvement
- Burns and soft tissue injuries
- Pelvic fractures
- Comminuted (shattered) and unstable fractures
- Fractures having bony deficits
- Limb-lengthening procedures
- Fractures with infection or non-union (fails to heal)
Rehabilitation
Fractures may take several weeks to months to heal completely. You should limit your activities even after the removal of the cast or brace so the bone becomes solid enough to bear stress. Rehabilitation programs involve exercises and a gradual increase in activity levels until the process of healing is complete.
Why Choose All American Orthopedic Surgeons for Fracture Care in Houston, Lake Jackson & Kingwood?
A broken bone requires prompt evaluation and expert treatment to ensure proper alignment, healing, and long-term function. Whether your fracture resulted from a sports injury, fall, workplace accident, or motor vehicle collision, the fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeons at All American Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Institute provide comprehensive fracture care tailored to your specific injury. From simple fractures to complex traumatic injuries, we develop personalized treatment plans focused on achieving the best possible recovery.
Patients choose our orthopedic team because we offer:
- Fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeons experienced in treating simple and complex fractures
- Comprehensive evaluations with advanced digital imaging
- Personalized treatment plans based on the location, severity, and type of fracture
- Non-surgical fracture management, including casting, splinting, and bracing when appropriate
- Advanced surgical fracture fixation using plates, screws, rods, or pins when necessary
- Comprehensive rehabilitation programs to restore strength, mobility, and function
- Fracture care for children, adults, athletes, and older adults
- Convenient office locations in Houston (Clear Lake), Lake Jackson, and Kingwood
Our goal is to relieve pain, restore proper bone alignment, promote complete healing, and help you safely return to work, sports, and everyday activities as quickly as possible.
Fracture Care FAQs
What is a fracture?
A fracture is a break or crack in a bone caused by trauma, repetitive stress, or weakened bone. Fractures can range from small stress fractures to complex injuries involving multiple bone fragments or joints.
What are the common signs of a broken bone?
Symptoms may include severe pain, swelling, bruising, tenderness, difficulty moving or bearing weight, visible deformity, or a grinding sensation at the injury site. Some fractures may also cause numbness or an open wound if the bone breaks through the skin.
How are fractures diagnosed?
Your orthopedic surgeon will perform a physical examination and typically obtain X-rays to determine the location and severity of the fracture. In some cases, CT scans or MRI may be recommended to evaluate complex fractures or associated soft tissue injuries.
Can a fracture heal without surgery?
Yes. Many fractures heal successfully with non-surgical treatment such as casting, splinting, bracing, or immobilization. Surgery is generally recommended for fractures that are displaced, unstable, involve a joint, or cannot heal properly without internal fixation.
What surgical treatments are available for fractures?
Depending on the injury, surgical treatment may involve open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) using plates, screws, rods, or pins to stabilize the bone while it heals. Your orthopedic surgeon will recommend the most appropriate procedure based on your fracture type.
How long does a fracture take to heal?
Healing time depends on the bone involved, the severity of the fracture, your age, and your overall health. Many fractures heal within six to eight weeks, while more complex injuries may require several months and rehabilitation before full recovery.
Will I need physical therapy after a fracture?
Many patients benefit from physical therapy after immobilization or surgery. Rehabilitation helps restore joint mobility, muscle strength, flexibility, balance, and function while reducing stiffness and supporting a safe return to daily activities.
Expert Fracture Care at All American Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Institute
If you suspect a broken bone, prompt orthopedic evaluation can help prevent complications and support a successful recovery. The experienced team at All American Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Institute provides comprehensive fracture care, offering advanced diagnostics, personalized treatment plans, surgical expertise when needed, and coordinated rehabilitation to restore function and mobility.
With convenient locations in Houston (Clear Lake), Lake Jackson, and Kingwood, expert fracture care is always close to home. Contact All American Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Institute today to schedule your consultation and receive expert care for your fracture or orthopedic injury.
