Broken Bones and Fractures
A fracture is a break or crack in a bone, ranging from a hairline crack to a complete break with multiple fragments. High-impact accidents - car crashes, falls, and construction accidents - are leading causes, and severe fractures often require surgery, extended immobilization, and months of physical therapy before full function returns.
Last updated: 2026-07-07
This information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal or medical advice.
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Some symptoms appear immediately; others develop hours or days after the accident. Seek medical evaluation promptly even if you feel okay.
- Intense, localized pain at the fracture site
- Visible deformity, angulation, or shortening of a limb
- Swelling and bruising around the injury
- Inability or severe difficulty using the injured area
- A cracking or snapping sensation at the moment of injury
- Numbness or tingling if nearby nerves are affected
- Bone protruding through skin in open (compound) fractures
Serious injuries can have lasting effects on your health, work, and daily life. Understanding these possibilities matters for your recovery and legal options.
- Malunion - fracture heals in an abnormal position, affecting function
- Post-traumatic arthritis in joints near the fracture site
- Avascular necrosis (bone death) in severe hip and femoral fractures
- Chronic pain at the fracture site
- Reduced strength, mobility, or range of motion
- Permanent hardware (plates, rods, screws) left in the body
- Psychological effects including fear of re-injury
Treatment options vary based on severity. Follow your healthcare provider's recommendations and document all treatment - it is important evidence for your claim.
- Immobilization with cast, splint, or brace for stable fractures
- Closed reduction (manual repositioning) under sedation
- Open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) surgery with hardware
- External fixation for complex or open fractures
- Physical and occupational therapy during and after healing
- Pain management including medication and nerve blocks
- Follow-up imaging (X-ray, CT scan) to monitor healing
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These accident types are frequently associated with this injury. Select an accident type to learn what steps to take.
- High-impact car, truck, and motorcycle accidents
- Slip and fall accidents, especially in older adults (hip fractures)
- Pedestrian accidents involving vehicle impact
- Construction site falls from height or falling object strikes
- Workplace machinery and equipment accidents
- Sports and recreational impact injuries
Frequently asked questions
A broken bone usually causes intense, localized pain at the fracture site, along with swelling, bruising, and visible deformity or shortening of the limb. Some people notice a cracking or snapping sensation at the moment of injury, and numbness or tingling can signal nearby nerve involvement. In severe open fractures, bone may protrude through the skin, and a doctor can confirm a suspected fracture with imaging such as an X-ray or CT scan.
Most broken bones after an accident stem from high-impact car, truck, and motorcycle crashes, slip and fall accidents (especially hip fractures in older adults), and pedestrian accidents involving vehicle impact. Construction site falls, falling object strikes, workplace machinery accidents, and sports impacts are common causes too.
Treatment depends on how severe the fracture is. Stable breaks are often managed with a cast, splint, or brace, while displaced or complex fractures may need closed reduction or open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) surgery with plates, screws, or rods. Recovery typically includes physical or occupational therapy and follow-up imaging to confirm the bone is healing correctly.
Depending on severity, a broken bone can lead to malunion (healing in an abnormal position), post-traumatic arthritis in nearby joints, or avascular necrosis in severe hip and femoral fractures. Some people are left with permanent hardware, plates, rods, or screws, or with reduced strength and range of motion long after the bone has healed.