Suffering a bone fracture in an accident may not seem like a cause for much concern for Nevada residents. Casts these days allow for maximum usage of the limb affected, and people are often on their way to recovery shortly. However, according to the Mayo Clinic, a bone fracture such as a broken leg bone leaves a person at risk for long-term complications, and these may not appear for some time after the initial injury.
When a fracture in a major bone is severe enough to leave the bone open, bacteria or a fungus may be able to get in and create an infection in the bone. An open fracture may also cause lower blood flow, which could delay healing significantly. Joint pain, nerve damage, neuromuscular complications and arthritis may also develop soon after the injury or years later.
Science Daily reports that researchers have discovered when a person breaks a major bone such as a hip, he or she has a doubled risk of chronic pain. Other studies have focused on the effects of trauma, and have led to associations between the events and a higher risk of long-term pain.
People included in the study reviewing bone fractures were between the ages of 40 and 69, and the scientists reviewed 500,000 cases. In determining the link between the fracture and long-term pain, other possible contributors to chronic pain were also weighed, including the following:
- Psychological health
- Diet
- Lifestyle
- Body type
For those who do develop chronic pain, the issue does not manifest only at the site of the injury but throughout the body. This raises concerns of disability and serious health-related issues for those who have suffered a bone fracture.
