Complications & Prevention

Complications:
A compound fracture can lead to infection of the bone or bone marrow. In some cases this infection can progress to a chronic infection called osteomyelitis, requiring treatment with antibiotics and careful management in hospital.

If the bones in a fracture refuse to join up again, or if they take a particularly long time to do so, the bone may lose its blood supply and die. This is known as avascular necrosis. In some cases, surgery may be needed if the fracture refuses to join up.

Fractures near or through joints may result in the joint becoming permanently stiff or unable to bend properly.

Prevention:
To grow, develop and maintain healthy bones, it is important that you have enough calcium in your diet. Good sources of calcium include milk, cheese and yoghurt. Vitamin D helps the body to absorb calcium - you can find it in margarine and oily fish.

Because of the way bones are made, they get stronger and denser with regular exercise. It is particularly important that older people remain active, as this will help to reduce their risk of fractures.

The female hormone oestrogen regulates the use of calcium in a woman's body. After the menopause, women produce far less oestrogen, making calcium regulation more difficult. This means that it is particularly important that women make their bones as strong as possible before the menopause.

Source: http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/articles/article.aspx?articleId=166&sectionId=6

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