Whether you slipped on a spill in the grocery store, tripped over an uneven sidewalk or were involved in a serious car crash, it is entirely possible that you can break a bone. While sometimes a broken bone simply means wearing a cast for several weeks, in other cases extensive operations and therapy are needed to recover, if recovery is even possible.
What are some types of broken — fractured — bones an individual in Pennsylvania can suffer? One type of fracture is a stable fracture. This occurs when the broken parts of the bone are still able to align. Contrast that to an open, compound fracture. In this type of break, the broken bone may pierce through the skin. Finally, there are comminuted fractures in which the bone is broken into three or more pieces.
In addition, fractures can be described based on the direction of the break. For example, one type of fracture is a transverse fracture. This simply means that the bone has broken horizontally. In comparison, an oblique fracture means the bone broke at an angle.
Unfortunately, not everyone who breaks a bone will fully recover. Sometimes a broken bone leads to a disabling condition. Individuals who have suffered a disability caused by a broken bone may want to learn more about pursuing Social Security Disability benefits based on fracture of the femur, tibia, pelvis or one or more of the tarsal bones or based on the fracture of an upper extremity. However, in order to be awarded benefits, there are many requirements that must be met. Therefore, individuals seeking benefits should not hesitate to seek the help they need to better understand their options.
Source: OrthoInfo, “Fractures (Broken Bones),” Accessed April 3, 2016
