I’ve got lots of weird and funny broken bone stories — usually fingers and toes. I broke a toe in gym class playing soccer when I missed the ball and kicked a classmate instead. I broke a finger when a friend threw a brick at me.
Nearly seven million Americans see an orthopedic specialist for a broken bone each year. I saw one for one of my broken fingers… but used the plain old emergency room or family doctor for the others. The average citizen can expect to suffer two broken bones over a lifetime. I guess that makes me an overachiever!
There are two critical factors in a bone breaking: the strength of the bone itself and the force (or energy) of the event. A stress fracture is a low-energy event; a car accident is a high-energy event. When the bone can’t handle the energy, you end up with a fracture.
In some cases, you’ll want to call for emergency help:
- If there has been a major trauma or injury (like a car accident)
- If the person is not breathing
- If there is very heavy bleeding
- If the bone has pierced the skin
- If the injured limb is numb or blue at the tip
- If a bone may be broken in the neck, head, or back
- If a bone may be broken in the hip, pelvis, or upper leg (for example, you may see the leg and/or foot turn outward at a weird angle)
Whether or not you need emergency help, you can administer first aid.
- Stop any bleeding. Use a clean cloth or a sterile bandage to apply pressure to a wound.
- Immobilize the injured area. Don’t try to realign the bone, but you can help keep the limb still.
- Apply ice to keep swelling down and help relieve pain. Wrap ice in a towel — don’t apply ice directly to the skin.
- Watch for shock. If the person feels faint or is taking short breaths, have them sit or lay down with the head slightly lower than the torso.