Non-displaced fractures occur when a bone breaks partially or completely in one place but stays aligned. They are usually clean fractures and may not be visible to the naked eye. Treatment is usually easier than other types of breaks, but there is a risk of further damage. An orthopedic doctor will monitor the fracture to determine the likelihood of this happening.
Fractures typically occur when a powerful force is placed on a bone, forcing it to bend and eventually snap or crack. Non-displaced fractures refer to the way the bone has broken. Usually, this type of fracture occurs when the bone breaks partially or completely in one place, but stays aligned. In most cases, an x-ray is needed to diagnose this type of rupture as it is not normally obvious to the naked eye.
Nondisplaced fractures are usually clean fractures of the bone. This usually occurs when the blow to the bone is rapid and dispersed over a larger area. Therefore, it is normal for the bone to break only partially, meaning that there is usually just a crack in the bone that doesn’t go all the way through. They differ from displaced fractures because a displaced fracture usually causes a complete break and displaces the bone from its original position, sometimes so much that it protrudes from the body.
Due to the nature of this type of fracture, a person may not be able to tell if there is an actual break in the bone. Typically, this type of fracture is only visible on an x-ray, but depending on how and where the fracture occurs, a computed tomography (CT) scan may be used. Before the orthopedic doctor checks for a non-displaced fracture, a person may suspect that there is a fracture if some signs of breakage appear. These signs usually include stiffness, tenderness, severe pain, and swelling of the area.
Because a non-displaced fracture means that the bone stays aligned, treating the fracture is usually easier than treating other types of breaks. Sometimes your doctor can apply temporary pain relief to the area and provide medications to help with the swelling. Your doctor may then apply a splint or cast to prevent further damage as the bone heals. This largely depends on the nature of the breakdown and where it occurred. A non-displaced skull fracture, for example, may require very little care, and protective covering is typically not needed.
Some fractures carry the risk of further damage after the break has occurred. Although this type of fracture leaves the bone in its original place, it can be at risk of shifting and becoming a compound fracture sometimes weeks after the original break occurred. This will cause even more damage to the surrounding area. An orthopedic doctor will typically monitor a nondisplaced fracture to determine the likelihood of this happening. Fractures that occur near joints can also put the person at high risk of having arthritis in the affected area later in life.
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