Broken Bones And Other Accidental Injury
Tuesday, April 05, 2005
The breaking of bones can be caused by many different types traumatic incidents, i.e., motor vehicle accidents, fall down occurrences, work site incidents, etc. Bones form the supportive framework (skeleton) of the human body, and are the hardest of all living tissues. Bones are connected at joints and make movement possible, provide sites of attachment for skeletal muscle, are a source of calcium ions for the blood, and form blood cells. As the human skeletal system is comprised of numerous bones, the nature of a fracture injury can range from benign to life-threatening.
The process of fracture-repair begins immediately at the time of fracture, and is accomplished by the body itself, without extraneous medical intervention. The first step in the repair of a fracture repair is the development of a hematoma, or pool of blood, that surrounds the fracture and provides the fracture with the nutrients needed to repair itself. The formation of a hematoma accounts for the swelling seen in the area of the fracture. After the hematoma surrounds the fracture, the process of bridging the gap in the fracture begins. Fractures tend to heal "inside-out" which means that the middle of the bone heals first, and the outside heals last. The inside of the bone is called the medullary canal, and cells called osteoblasts begin to fill the fracture area inside the medullary canal. In time, these tube-like structures form bridges which cover the gap caused by the fracture. Eventually, these soft, "fibrous" tubes turn into cells that will form reparative bone matter. After fracture repair has begun on the inside of the bone, the process of repairing the outside of the bone begins. The outside of the fracture is covered with a substance called callus, which covers the exterior gap in the fracture. Callus can be seen by x-ray, and assists medical personnel is determining that the body's innate system of healing is functioning correctly.
Of course, while the human body performs many functions in the healing process, medical intervention can expedite and assure that this process succeeds. Surgical reduction of fractures, often with the use of hardware, is necessary in certain circumstances. Immobilization with casts and other devices aids in the healing process of a fracture. Other, simple fractures simply require time to heal.
Events resulting in fracture injury are often the subject of litigation. To protect your legal rights following a traumatic event resulting in a fracture injury, it is generally wise to consult an attorney who is experienced in such matters.
An attorney can help "level the playing field" by providing accident victims with information regarding the practical and legal aspects of personal injury law. Discuss your situation with us right now.
