When you think of a broken bone and how it heals, you may envision a cast or even a surgical procedure to stabilize the area. While stabilization of the broken bone is vitally important to proper healing and recovery of full function, the most remarkable work is done behind the scenes by the body itself.
Regardless of whether a fracture is due to a surgical procedure or injury, the body begins the arduous process of healing the area within minutes. This process occurs even if it hasn’t been placed in a cast or stabilized with a splint or surgery, which makes it vitally important to seek appropriate medical care if you think you may have a broken bone.
The first phase of bone healing is inflammation. The injured bone edges bleed into the area, causing a clot to form. This inflammatory process and clot formation forms the initial scaffolding for new bone to develop. The inflammatory phase of bone healing begins immediately after the fracture and continues for several days.
The second phase of bone healing is the formation of new bony tissue. This new tissue, or callus, is initially very soft and delicate in nature. The clot from the initial injury is replaced with fibrotic tissue and cartilage, and over the course of the next several weeks, transitions to a harder callus which is what we typically envision of bony tissue. This hard callus can be seen on x-ray within a few weeks following a fracture.
The third and final phase of bone healing is the remodeling phase. This is the longer-lasting process that involves the body fine-tuning the bulky, bony callus and compacting it down to the original shape of the bone before it was fractured. As circulation to the area improves and the bone begins to endure the stress of everyday movement, the bony callus smooths and the area is returned to its pre-fracture density.
These three phases of bone healing can take a few weeks to several months, depending on your age, physical condition, and the area that has been fractured. It’s important to seek the advice of a qualified orthopedic specialist to treat and monitor the healing of a fracture. Contact us today for any questions regarding bone healing or any additional orthopedic concerns you may have.
