Broken Limbs Specialist

What are broken limbs?

Broken limbs include broken bones in your arms, hands, fingers, legs, feet, toes, or joints. Your bones might have a crack or may break into two or more pieces in some cases. Broken limbs are painful, but getting proper treatment helps ensure they heal the right way as quickly as possible.

What are the symptoms of broken limbs?

Common signs and symptoms of broken bones include:

• Swelling
• Redness
• Immediate pain
• Bruising
• Limited limb movement
• Obvious bone deformities
• Reduced mobility 

Pain you experience with broken limbs ranges from mild to severe or debilitating. Treatment is the best way to help your bones heal.

What are the risk factors for broken limbs?

Broken limbs can happen to anyone, but some factors increase your risk of experiencing them. Examples include:

• Car accidents 
• Repetitive forces
• Contact sports
• Falls
• Low bone density
• Osteoporosis

Generally speaking, your risk of broken limbs increases with playing sports and older age. But you can’t always avoid fractures. 

How does my doctor diagnose broken limbs?

To determine if you have broken bones, your Chicago Surgical Clinic provider discusses your symptoms and accident history. They evaluate areas of your body that are painful or show signs of a broken bone.

Your specialist may recommend you complete bone scans, X-rays, MRIs, CT scans, or other imaging procedures to determine the type and severity of the broken limb you have and develop an effective treatment plan.

How are broken limbs treated?

Treatments available at Chicago Surgical Clinic for broken limbs include:

Casting and splinting

Wearing a splint or cast protects broken limbs while they heal. Your specialist lets you know which you may need based on the body part that’s broken and the severity of your break. For example, if you have a broken finger or toe, you’d likely wear a splint instead of a cast.

Traction

Traction uses specialized weights and pulleys to stretch muscles and tendons surrounding a broken bone in your limb. Doing so properly aligns the bone to promote healing.

Surgery

Surgery allows the Chicago Surgical Clinic team to repair severely broken limbs to allow them to heal properly. Your specialist first numbs the treatment area before your surgery so you don’t feel any pain. 

They offer medications to help you relax or fall asleep during the procedure and may recommend you complete physical therapy afterward to speed up your recovery and prevent future broken bones.

At the first sign of broken limbs, call the Chicago Surgical Clinic office or schedule an appointment online today.