Discussion Board Question: A 6-year-old fell while climbing a tree and injured his right arm. An x-ray revealed a fractured radius. Describe the various ways a facture may be classified (20 points). The patient’s mother is very concerned about the healing process. Describe what happens when a bone is fractured and how the bone heals (20 points). Discuss complications that may occur from a fracture (20 points). Respond to this student: Fractures are described as a break in a bone caused when more stress is placed on the bone than it can absorb. Fractures can be grouped into three major categories: fractures caused by sudden injury, fatigue or stress fractures (occurs from repeated wear on a bone), and pathologic fractures (occurs in bones that are already weakened by disease (Norris, T. L. 2019). Fractures can also be classified according to location, type, and direction or pattern of the fracture. The types of fractures could be simple or closed (bone does not break the skin), compound or open (bone penetrates the skin), complete, and incomplete fracture. The direction of fracture line include linear, longitudinal, transverse, oblique, and spiral; and the fragment position include comminuted, depressed, or greenstick. When a bone is fractured, the periosteum (connective tissue covering the bone) is damaged, and the blood vessels are disrupted. Blood from the damaged vessels will move into the fracture and form a hematoma, this damage triggers an inflammatory response. Which leads to the release of cytokines and growth factors that aid in healing, the hematoma is then infiltrated by fibroblasts which will secrete collagen fibers and eventually form a callus, which will connect the broken ends of the bone. Osteoclasts invade the callus, this helps convert the callus to bone, this process is called ossification. Remodeling occurs and the bone hardens (Marsh, 2022). Bone healing is a complex process and takes time, healing time depends on the site of the fracture, the condition of the fracture fragments, hematoma formation, and other local and host factors. However in the patient’s case a fractured radius can take up to 6 – 12weeks to heal and regain proper function. Some complications that can occur from a fracture include: I. Skeletal deformities: the bone may not heal or heals improperly. II. Ascetic necrosis: caused by impaired circulation and the necrosis is not usually caused by an infection. III. Fat embolism: fractures can damage marrows and tissue, can cause the release of emboli into the bloodstream and could travel to vital organs. IV. Avascular necrosis: also called osteonecrosis, this is due to loss of blood to a bone. V. Compartment syndrome: increased pressure in a muscle compartment, caused by edema or bleeding and is an emergency because it leads to increased pain. References Marsh, Shannon. Alterations in the Immune System: NURS 2373 Fall 2022 Immunity. Blackboard Lecture recording. Norris, T. L. (2019). Porth’s pathophysiology: Concepts of Altered Health States (10th ed.). Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.