bones re-breaking
Discussion
Last year I broke my hand in 2 places,needing surgery (k wires). All healed fine and dandy. Yesterday though I was walking,holding my 3 year olds hand,and felt a 'click' in my hand which smarted a bit,about 30 mins after I had a bit of swelling in my knuckles and around the area which I broke. My question is can bones just randomly break like this? I.e no impact etc,I'm going to get it looked at tomorrow as I have no time today,just wondering really as I find it quite odd :s
Its my hand that I broke,like the bones in my palm. The bone in my hand going to my little finger and the 1 next to it,both bad breaks. Had to have my hand pulled at and squoze then set in cast then go back for the k wire surgery, not something I'm keen on havin done again in a hurry.
After a bad break and especially after surgery it's quite possible for them to re-break that easily with some combination of bits of bad luck.
You'll want to get it x-rayed fairly promptly so that it can't cause any more trouble if it has re-broken.
The mention of a possible dislocation is a good point, especially if your original injury was a fracture-dislocation (which it sounds like it could have been from your description) - dislocations in people with normal ligaments/connective tissue generally do some damage, which has the effect of leaving the joint much more vulnerable to dislocating again.
If it's dislocated but hasn't settled back in place then you'll also need an x-ray.
Hopefully it's nothing serious!
You'll want to get it x-rayed fairly promptly so that it can't cause any more trouble if it has re-broken.
The mention of a possible dislocation is a good point, especially if your original injury was a fracture-dislocation (which it sounds like it could have been from your description) - dislocations in people with normal ligaments/connective tissue generally do some damage, which has the effect of leaving the joint much more vulnerable to dislocating again.
If it's dislocated but hasn't settled back in place then you'll also need an x-ray.
Hopefully it's nothing serious!
BlackVanDyke said:
After a bad break and especially after surgery it's quite possible for them to re-break that easily with some combination of bits of bad luck.
You'll want to get it x-rayed fairly promptly so that it can't cause any more trouble if it has re-broken.
The mention of a possible dislocation is a good point, especially if your original injury was a fracture-dislocation (which it sounds like it could have been from your description) - dislocations in people with normal ligaments/connective tissue generally do some damage, which has the effect of leaving the joint much more vulnerable to dislocating again.
If it's dislocated but hasn't settled back in place then you'll also need an x-ray.
Hopefully it's nothing serious!
I disagree, wind back on that authoritative tone please..You'll want to get it x-rayed fairly promptly so that it can't cause any more trouble if it has re-broken.
The mention of a possible dislocation is a good point, especially if your original injury was a fracture-dislocation (which it sounds like it could have been from your description) - dislocations in people with normal ligaments/connective tissue generally do some damage, which has the effect of leaving the joint much more vulnerable to dislocating again.
If it's dislocated but hasn't settled back in place then you'll also need an x-ray.
Hopefully it's nothing serious!
If it's healed, and the time between injury and ?reinjury is plenty long enough, then you have achieved union. The bones will most likely be as strong as they were before.
If you never healed (delayed union or non-union) then it may re-break with a lesser force. But the symptoms of delayed or non-union are pain, so if that went away then...
Your comments about fracture dislocation are closer to the mark.
OP, go and see a doctor if you are worried. This can't be sorted definitively over the ether
Will
I do bones
The_Doc said:
BlackVanDyke said:
After a bad break and especially after surgery it's quite possible for them to re-break that easily with some combination of bits of bad luck.
You'll want to get it x-rayed fairly promptly so that it can't cause any more trouble if it has re-broken.
The mention of a possible dislocation is a good point, especially if your original injury was a fracture-dislocation (which it sounds like it could have been from your description) - dislocations in people with normal ligaments/connective tissue generally do some damage, which has the effect of leaving the joint much more vulnerable to dislocating again.
If it's dislocated but hasn't settled back in place then you'll also need an x-ray.
Hopefully it's nothing serious!
I disagree, wind back on that authoritative tone please..You'll want to get it x-rayed fairly promptly so that it can't cause any more trouble if it has re-broken.
The mention of a possible dislocation is a good point, especially if your original injury was a fracture-dislocation (which it sounds like it could have been from your description) - dislocations in people with normal ligaments/connective tissue generally do some damage, which has the effect of leaving the joint much more vulnerable to dislocating again.
If it's dislocated but hasn't settled back in place then you'll also need an x-ray.
Hopefully it's nothing serious!
If it's healed, and the time between injury and ?reinjury is plenty long enough, then you have achieved union. The bones will most likely be as strong as they were before.
If you never healed (delayed union or non-union) then it may re-break with a lesser force. But the symptoms of delayed or non-union are pain, so if that went away then...
Your comments about fracture dislocation are closer to the mark.
OP, go and see a doctor if you are worried. This can't be sorted definitively over the ether
Will
I do bones
OP, listen to Will, he knows more s
t than me. 
TheEnd said:
I thought they grow back stronger for ages, as the bone is thicker, and that slowly returns to normal over a couple of years.
I've broke or fractured a finger before and could feel the thicker plated bit after the repair for ages.
[pic]http://www.exogen.com/elements/media/images/healing-graphic.jpg[\pic]I've broke or fractured a finger before and could feel the thicker plated bit after the repair for ages.
healing bone = Woven Bone, larger and disorganised
mature bone = Lamellar Bone, heterogenous and designed to resist load, and slimmer
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