Fractures are classified as either an open fracture or a closed fracture:

• Open fracture: bone breaks through the skin and is visible.
• Closed fracture: bone breaks but stays within the skin and is not visible. 

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Fractures can happen anywhere in the body, examples of fractures include:

• Hip: a break in the femur (thigh bone) that connects to the hip joint. This type of fracture usually occurs in older adults and can be caused by a fall or other trauma. Surgery is often necessary to repair a hip fracture.
• Hairline/stress fracture: a tiny crack in a bone that often occurs due to repetitive stress or overuse. This type of fracture is common in athletes and can cause pain, swelling, and tenderness.
• Ankle: a break in one or more of the bones that make up the ankle joint. This type of fracture can occur due to a sudden injury, such as a fall or twist, or due to overuse.
• Shoulder: a break in one of the bones that make up the shoulder joint. This type of fracture can be caused by a fall or other trauma.
• Elbow: a break in one of the bones that make up the elbow joint. This type of fracture can be caused by a fall or other trauma.
• Boxer’s fracture: a break in the bones of the hand that connect to the pinky finger. This type of fracture is often caused by punching a hard object and can cause pain, swelling, and deformity.

Other causes of fractures can include underlying medical conditions such as osteoporosis or cancer, which can weaken your bones and increase the risk of fractures.

In some cases, fractures may occur as a result of repetitive stress or overuse, such as in the case of stress fractures.

Hip

• Severe pain in the hip or groin area
• Inability to bear weight on the affected leg
• Swelling or bruising in the hip area
• Shortened leg on the affected side

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Hairline/stress fracture

• Pain that worsens with activity and improves with rest
• Swelling or tenderness in the affected area
• Weakness or instability in the affected area

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Ankle

• Severe pain in the ankle
• Swelling or bruising in the ankle
• Inability to bear weight on the affected leg
• Deformity or misalignment of the ankle joint

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Shoulder

• Severe pain in the shoulder area
• Swelling or bruising in the shoulder area
• Limited range of motion in the shoulder joint
• Deformity or misalignment of the shoulder joint

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Elbow

• Severe pain in the elbow area
• Swelling or bruising in the elbow area
• Limited range of motion in the elbow joint
• Deformity or misalignment of the elbow joint

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Boxer’s fracture

• Pain and swelling in the hand
• Deformity or misalignment of the affected finger
• Difficulty moving the affected finger
• Numbness or tingling in the affected finger or hand

When a bone is fractured, the nerves surrounding the bone can become irritated, which can lead to significant pain and discomfort.

However, the risk of fractures increases due to:

• Osteoporosis: osteoporosis is a bone disease that causes weakened bones. These weakened bones are unable to bear weight and hence are more prone to fractures.
• Age: as we age, we lose bone mass and some of us may develop osteoporosis. This makes older individuals at a higher risk of fractures.

If you are experiencing pain, swelling and deformity after sustaining a recent injury, you might have a fracture.

The severity of a fracture depends on various factors such as the location of the fracture, the type of fracture, and the age and overall health of the individual. In severe cases, the broken bone may even protrude through the skin.

• Physical examination and medical history: your orthopaedist will ask you about your symptoms and medical history followed by a physical examination. The affected area will be evaluated for signs of swelling, tenderness, deformity, and other symptoms.
• Imaging tests: x-rays, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or computed tomography scans (CT-scans) can help to confirm the diagnosis of a fracture and provide more detailed information about the location and severity of the injury.
• Bone scan: bone scans can be conducted to find fractures that an x-ray misses. 

• stabilising your bone to promote proper healing 
• managing pain and/or other symptoms associated with your injury

The treatment options for fractures depend on the type and severity of your injury and other individual factors such as age, overall health, and lifestyle. 

Common treatment options for fractures include:

• Immobilisation: using a case, splint, or brace to keep your bone in place while it heals.
• Medications: pain relievers, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to manage pain and inflammation.
• Surgery: for severe cases to repair a fracture and/or stabilise the bone while it heals. Surgeries include shoulder fracture fixation, elbow fracture fixation, knee fracture fixation, ankle fracture fixation, and fracture fixation (ORIF).
• Physiotherapy: physiotherapy involves gentle and therapeutic exercises to help restore strength, flexibility, and range of motion.