Elizabeth Quinn is an exercise physiologist, sports medicine writer, and fitness consultant for corporate wellness and rehabilitation clinics.

Oluseun Olufade, MD, is a board-certified orthopedist. He teaches as an Assistant Professor of Orthopedics at Emory School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia.

A broken bone or bone fracture is a crack or a break in a bone. A fracture can be complete or partial. If the broken bone punctures the skin, it is called an open or compound fracture.

Fractures commonly occur from a high impact or trauma to the bone, although some diseases can weaken bones and cause them to break. Very small cracks in the bone called stress fractures can be caused by overuse. The most common causes include:

If you suspect you have a fractured bone, you should seek immediate emergency medical care. X-rays are often used to located and assess fractures. The broken pieces may need to be put back in place and then immobilized until the bones can heal as new bone forms around the break. This is called stabilization.

You may need to wear a cast or splint, or possibly have surgery to put in plates, pins or screws to keep the bone in place.

Immediately after a bone fracture, the body forms a protective blood clot and callus or fibrous tissue to protect the injured area. Bone-forming cells start forming new bone at the edges of the fracture site and grow toward each other. Over time, the fracture closes completely, and the bony callus is absorbed.

The type of treatment will depend on the kind of fracture and the specific bones involved.​

Fractures usually heal in about four to six weeks, but some can take several months depending on the extent of the injury and how well you follow rehab instructions.

Casts or braces are often removed before complete healing to prevent joint stiffness. Pain usually decreases before the fracture is solid enough to handle a complete return to sports, so working with a therapist on a rehab protocol is important to avoid further injury.

Once the bone is healed and strong, it's safe to begin muscle building. During the disuse, the muscles will have atrophied and be extremely weak. Tendons and ligaments may also be stiff from a lack of use. Rehabilitation involves flexibility, balance and strengthening exercises and a gradual increase in activity. Physical therapy is the preferred method of safely getting back into sports.

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Einhorn TA, Gerstenfeld LC. Fracture healing: mechanisms and interventions. Nat Rev Rheumatol. 2015;11(1):45-54. doi:10.1038/nrrheum.2014.164

Singaram S, Naidoo M. The physical, psychological and social impact of long bone fractures on adults: A review. Afr J Prim Health Care Fam Med. 2019;11(1):e1-e9. doi:10.4102/phcfm.v11i1.1908

American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. About Casts.

American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. Internal Fixation for Fractures.

Fractures (Broken Bones), OrthoInfo, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, October 2012.

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