If they aren’t treated quickly and properly, yes, it is. Bone breaks (or fractures, as they’re medically known) are one of the most common reasons people seek medical care.

Our AFC Urgent Care Boulder team provides some helpful information about them below, so keep reading!

What Exactly Is a Fracture?

A fracture happens when a bone entirely or partially splits. Accidents, slips, falls and sports-related injuries commonly cause these injuries, but weakening bone disorders like osteoporosis and low bone density can also cause them in more rare cases.

Out of the many various forms of bone fractures that exist, we’ve included some of the most common ones below.

Types of Fractures

• Closed and open fractures: If the injury doesn’t open the skin, it’s called a closed fracture. If the skin does open, it’s called an open fracture or, perhaps more commonly, a compound fracture.
• Complete fractures: The break goes completely through the bone, separating it in two.
• Partial fractures: The break doesn’t go all the way through the bone.
• Stress (hairline) fractures: The bone gets a crack in it, which is sometimes tough to find with imaging.

Can Fractures Get Worse?

Yes, they can. A stress fracture is the most common example. If it is left untreated, it can get worse and worse over time and eventually result in a complete fracture. Complete fractures can result in far more pain and require considerably more involved treatments.

Additionally, if you’ve had a more severe fracture, a bone that is not properly treated might lead to a nonunion, meaning that it will continue to be divided and won’t heal.

Tests that Diagnose Fractures

• X-rays: This is the most common way to diagnose a fracture, as this tool produces a two-dimensional picture of the break.
• Bone scan: This type of test is used to find fractures that don’t show up on an X-ray. This scan takes longer—usually two visits four hours apart—but it can help find some fractures.
• CT scan: A CT scan uses computers and X-rays to create detailed slices or cross-sections of the bone.
• MRI: This type of test is most often used to diagnose muscle and tissue-related injuries, but it can also diagnose a stress fracture.

If you’ve broken a bone, visit our AFC team! We can provide quality, affordable and convenient non-emergency care for you and your family.