Can Broken Bones Repair Themselves?

Posted by Great Lakes Orthopaedics on January 4th, 2021

The bones in your body are quite flexible and they bear a lot of physical force daily. However, when the force goes beyond the control, the bones break. People often ask us if these broken bones can repair on their own. We would say that with right conditions, it is easier to heal the bones on their own. The self-repairing will also depend upon the damage done. If the damage is minor like when we say someone has a hair line fracture, the bones recover and repair on their own. On the other hand, if the damage is too big, it needs to be treated properly. Read this article with insights from the shoulder surgeons in Livonia, which will help you understand about the healing process of bones.

When the bones break, the surrounding area is covered by blood clot. Under this situation, the bone cells will begin to form on the sides of the fracture line gradually moving towards the centre of the break until it heals. Once the process of healing is completed, the callus or clot will be absorbed by the new cells. The entire process of bone fracture can take from a few weeks to months.

The right condition for bones to heal completely

The broken bones are classified as per the characteristics of the break. A bone can break into two more pieces and can spread apart piercing through the skin. For instance, the complex bone fractures needs a surgery from an experienced surgeon. The soft tissues will likely have been damaged by the fractured bone.

The bone fractures are classified as transverse, stress fractures, and oblique (nondisplaced), when the bone pieces are quite together with each other. In this case, the bones can heal on their own without any surgical intervention. For the stress fractures, the doctor may recommend that the individual use crutches to keep the weight off the affected area. For the transverse and oblique fractures, the bone should be held in the correct position to allow for proper healing and prevent the movement of the body part. This process is also known as immobilization. The surgeon may use a cast to hold the broken bones in alignment. This cast should be worn for several weeks.

When the bone is healing on its own, the body will also need the right nutrients for optimal bone fracture healing. You should eat healthy foods with special attention on the calcium rich foods like cheese, milk, spinach and sardines. If the individual has any nutritional deficiencies, it may interfere with the bone healing process.

If you have faced any shoulder injury, reach out to the best shoulder surgeons in Livonia to know more on this.

Allen Martin is the author of this Article: To know more about shoulder surgeons Livonia. Please visit the Website: Greatlakeso.com