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🏥 Gotokuji Orthopedic Clinic / Patient Guide

Understanding Fractures

Fracture
What to do when a bone breaks: treatment and recovery

A fracture is an injury where a bone breaks or cracks due to strong force.
There are traumatic fractures caused by sports or accidents, and pathological fractures that happen when bones are weakened by conditions like osteoporosis.
Stress fractures, caused by repeated strain, are common in athletes.
Even a hairline crack counts as a fracture. Because treatment differs depending on the type and location, accurate diagnosis with X-ray or CT scan is important.

1
Traumatic Fracture

The bone breaks from a fall, accident, or impact during sports

2
Pathological Fracture (Fragility Fracture)

Bones weakened by osteoporosis can break even from a minor impact

3
Stress Fracture

Small, repeated stress from running or repetitive movements builds up and causes a break

4
Bones heal naturally

When properly immobilized, bones can repair themselves by forming new bone tissue

⚽ Sports 💥 Falls & Accidents 🦴 Osteoporosis 🏃 Overuse
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Severe pain that prevents movement
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Significant swelling at the injured area
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Visible change in shape (deformity)
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Complete inability to bend or straighten the joint
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Spreading bruising or strong pain when pressing on the injured area
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Cast / Splint
Holds the bone in the correct position and lets it heal naturally
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Surgery (Metal Fixation)
For large displacements, plates and screws are used to fix the bone. We do not perform surgery here, so we refer you to a partner hospital
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Ultrasound Bone Healing
Used for fractures that are hard to heal (nonunion or delayed union). Low-intensity ultrasound helps support bone union (can be used at home)
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Rehabilitation
After the cast is removed, exercises restore range of motion and strength
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Pain Medication
Anti-inflammatory painkillers help manage pain as needed
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Osteoporosis Treatment
For fragility fractures, bone-strengthening medication helps prevent future breaks. See our osteoporosis guide for details on these medicines
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Most fractures can be expected to heal with proper treatment

Recovery time varies depending on the location and severity of the fracture, but accurate diagnosis and choosing the right treatment are the keys to faster healing. For patients with osteoporosis, preventing future fractures is also important.

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Our clinic uses an ultrasound bone healing device (Osteotron).
This treatment applies low-intensity ultrasound to the fracture site, which is expected to encourage bone regeneration and support healing. It is used mainly for fractures that are hard to heal (nonunion or delayed union), and can be used at home for 20 minutes a day (insurance coverage is subject to conditions).

💡 First Aid & When to See a Doctor

  • Keep the injured area still, apply ice, and rest
  • Splint with a board or towel and visit an orthopedic clinic promptly
  • X-rays will confirm whether there is a fracture and what type it is
  • Even if you think it is just a bruise, if the pain does not go away, it could be a fracture