1. Look At the Condition of Your Skin
The two most basic bone fractures can be identified with the naked eye. Open bone fractures, also known as compound fractures, expose the bone, often through large wounds that break the skin considerably. Closed fractures, also known as simple fractures, may produce a significant bulge under the skin, but without an apparent wound. While both fractures are serious, open fractures require more urgent care, as they are prone to infection.
2. Don't Ignore Pain
Swelling and bruising around the injury are often signs of a complete fracture, in which the bone separates into two or more parts. Complete fractures are more likely to break through the skin because the bone cracked under a rather large impact and then shifts . The broken end of the bone may also be sharp enough to piece the skin. Incomplete fractures occur when the bone cracks without completely breaking. These are the hardest fractures to identify, since there often are no signs of injury, and the pain may be slight.
3. Consider Your Age
Different age groups are more prone to different types of bone fractures. For example, children are more likely to suffer complete fractures, while seniors may fall victim to cracked bones, especially in the hip and leg areas. Seniors, especially those with osteoporosis, are also susceptible to compression fractures of the lower spine, in which a vertebra is crushed without any external trauma. In all cases, even if no signs of fracture are apparent, intense pain or an inability to use part of the body properly can indicate a fracture.
