Final answer:
Bone repair usually takes 12-16 weeks to heal properly, involving several stages including the formation of a fracture hematoma, an internal and external callus, and the eventual remodeling of the bone.
Step-by-step explanation:
The process of bone repair generally takes about two to three months before compact and spongy bone form at the break site. Initially, blood from torn vessels begins to clot, forming a fracture hematoma. Overtime, an internal and external callus form to stabilize the fracture. The fibrocartilaginous callus is then converted into a bony callus of spongy bone, which takes about two months for the broken bone ends to be firmly joined together. The final stage of bone repair is remodeling, where the bone is shaped into its original form and strengthened.
Factors such as the location of the break, the severity of the fracture, and the health of the individual can affect the duration of the bone healing process. Nevertheless, in a typical scenario without complications, the answer to how long bone repair generally takes is option a) 12-16 weeks.