Fractures

Millions of children and adults suffer bone fractures every year in America. Because every fracture is different, the dedicated orthopedic specialists at Advocare South Jersey Orthopedic Associates offer personalized diagnosis and treatment in two convenient locations in Voorhees and Turnersville, New Jersey. For prompt fracture care in the Greater South New Jersey area, call either office or request an appointment online now.

WHAT IS A FRACTURE?

A fracture is a partial or complete break in a bone. There are many types of fractures, with some common ones being:

Nondisplaced fractures

A nondisplaced fracture, or stable fracture, is a broken bone in which the ends of your bone still line up.

Displaced fractures

A displaced fracture moves your bone out of its normal alignment, so the ends don't connect properly anymore.

Open fracture

An open fracture, or compound fracture, occurs when part of your bone breaks through your skin to create an open wound.

Transverse fracture

A transverse fracture features a side-to-side line through the bone.

Oblique fracture

An oblique fracture features an angled line through the bone.

Comminuted fracture

A comminuted fracture occurs when the bone breaks into three (or more) different sections.

There are also other less common forms of fracture, such as greenstick fractures, in which a bone bends and cracks but doesn't completely break.

WHAT CAUSES FRACTURES?

The main causes of fractures are bodily trauma, osteoporosis, and repetitive overuse. Bodily trauma happens at all ages, while osteoporosis usually occurs in older adults. Repetitive overuse fractures are a common type of sports injury.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF A FRACTURE?

Some of the signs that you might have a fracture requiring medical attention include:

• Pain
• Bruising
• Swelling
• Limited movement
• Warmth
• Inability to bear weight or use the body part
• Change in the appearance of the affected area

Not all fractures cause obvious symptoms. For example, with fractures caused by osteoporosis, symptoms are likely to develop quite gradually with a ramp in intensity over time.

HOW ARE FRACTURES DIAGNOSED?

At Advocare South Jersey Orthopedic Associates, the on-site digital X-rays are the fastest and most effective way to confirm a fracture diagnosis. Digital X-rays take only seconds, and they show your affected bone in great detail to allow your doctor to plan the ideal treatment.

HOW ARE FRACTURES TREATED?

Treatment can range from nonsurgical to major surgical repairs, based on the fracture. Treatment options typically include:

• Brace
• Cast (Gore-Tex® waterproof cast padding available)
• External fixation with metal components
• Traction
• Fracture alignment and internal fixation

Usually, your pain recedes fairly fast after initial treatment. But, you'll need to follow all recovery guidelines to experience the most effective healing.

HOW LONG DOES FRACTURE HEALING TAKE?

It depends on the severity of the fracture and other individual factors. In general, most fractures heal within around 8-12 weeks.

Do you fear you have a fracture? Don't worry, Advocare South Jersey Orthopedic Associates has all your needs covered. Call either of their two New Jersey offices or use request an appointment online now.

Digital X-ray can help to detect injuries, diagnose damage, monitor disease, check treatment efficacy, and much more. At Advocare South Jersey Orthopedic Associates in Voorhees and Turnersville, New Jersey, the skilled orthopedic specialists use digital X-ray because they offer instant results, highly detailed images, and reduced radiation exposure as compared to old-fashioned film X-rays. 

WHAT IS A DIGITAL X-RAY?

A digital X-ray is an imaging method that Advocare South Jersey Orthopedic Associates uses to diagnose musculoskeletal damage. During a digital X-ray, digital sensors scan your body to produce an image from inside your body.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF A DIGITAL X-RAY VERSUS FILM X-RAY?

There are several important advantages associated with digital X-ray.

Speed

Digital X-rays don't use film, so the whole digitized process only takes seconds.

Detail

Your doctor can access your images immediately using a secure in-office computer system. Your doctor can magnify, adjust brightness, and enhance the images in other ways to see a level of detail that's impossible with film X-rays.

Radiation

Digital X-rays use a much lower amount of radiation than film X-rays.

Collaboration

With digital X-rays, your doctor can collaborate with others more easily. Several doctors can view your digitized images simultaneously, which isn't possible with old-fashioned X-rays.

Storage

Film X-rays are difficult to store because the film naturally breaks down over time. Digital X-rays all stay in the office records from the moment they’re taken. That means your doctor can easily monitor changes over the months and years. 

Advocare South Jersey Orthopedic Associates has digital X-rays in the office as part of their commitment to providing state-of-the-art orthopedic care.

WHEN WOULD I NEED A DIGITAL X-RAY?

Some of the reasons you might need a digital X-ray include:

• Fracture diagnosis
• Joint dislocation diagnosis
• Monitoring of progressive bone disease like arthritis
• Bone infection diagnosis
• Assessing treatment efficacy
• Surgeon guidance during procedures

In most cases, you'll have a digital X-ray during your first appointment at Advocare South Jersey Orthopedic Associates. You may need X-rays later, during or after treatment, to assess your progress.

HOW DO I PREPARE FOR A DIGITAL X-RAY?

There's no special prep required ahead of your appointment, but you'll need to remove any metal you're wearing prior to the imaging.

Advocare South Jersey Orthopedic Associates proudly offers the very best in diagnosis and treatment, which is why they have digital X-ray equipment in the office. Request an appointment online or call either office to arrange your consultation now.

When you break a leg or arm, it usually means wearing a cast for six weeks or longer while the bone heals. Traditional casts aren't suitable for use in the bath or swimming pool, but Advocare South Jersey Orthopedic Associates provides an alternative with their waterproof casts. At their Voorhees and Turnersville locations in New Jersey, you can have a cast fitted that uses Gore-Tex® technology to enable you to bathe and swim. To find out more, call your closest office today or request an appointment online.

WHAT ARE WATERPROOF CASTS?

Waterproof casts are an option Advocare South Jersey Orthopedic Associates offers for those who need to wear a cast but want to be able to shower and swim without difficulty.

For many years, casts have had cotton padding, which is comfortable but doesn't endure water exposure. It also has a tendency to soak up sweat and develop unpleasant odors over time. Previously, the only way you could wash the area covered by a cast was to get your doctor to remove the cast, clean your skin, and then fit a new cast.

Waterproof casts are an effective solution to the problem of wet, dirty casts.

WHAT MATERIALS ARE WATERPROOF CASTS MADE FROM?

Waterproof casts are made from water-resistant materials. When your provider fits a fiberglass cast with a waterproof liner, water is able to drain from the cast rather than soak into the padding.

The waterproof casts Advocare South Jersey Orthopedic Associates uses consist of Gore-Tex, a synthetic material that repels water but allows water vapor through. After your bath or swim, the Gore-Tex liner extracts water from beneath your cast and air-dries in a few hours.

The covering of a waterproof cast is the same as regular casts – fiberglass coverings that are tougher than traditional plaster.

WHY SHOULD I CONSIDER A WATERPROOF CAST?

A traditional cast performs an invaluable job, but can be a nuisance to look after. If you want to have a bath or even a shower, you have to seal the cast in plastic or a special cover to make sure it doesn't get wet, and you can't risk going swimming at all.

With a waterproof cast, you don't have those worries. Furthermore, your cast doesn't get as sweaty and smelly, and you're less likely to develop skin problems under the breathable liner.

ARE THERE ANY DISADVANTAGES TO HAVING WATERPROOF CASTS?

Waterproof casts do have a few limitations. For instance, if you had a compound fracture (where the skin is broken), you wouldn't be able to use a waterproof cast until the skin had healed.

Waterproof casts also take longer to fit than standard casts, and you may find the cast feels strange for a few hours while it dries after washing or swimming.

Waterproof casts do cost more than regular casts. However, Advocare South Jersey Orthopedic Associates provides them for a nominal fee, so you know what the cost is going to be up front.

Most individuals who try waterproof casts find they're well worth having, as they offer such significant benefits. To find out more, call Advocare South Jersey Orthopedic Associates or book an appointment online today.