Final answer:
Complications of fractures include infection, malunion, and nerve damage. The healing process involves the circulatory and immune systems and requires correct alignment for successful recovery. Proper treatment ensures the bone heals without functional impairment.
Step-by-step explanation:
Complications of Fractures and Healing Process
Common complications associated with fractures include infection, delayed union or nonunion of the bone, and blood clots. Nerve damage and compartment syndrome where swelling causes increased pressure within a limited space, impairing blood flow and muscle function, can also occur. During the healing process, the skeletal, circulatory, and immune systems work together to repair the fracture.
Fractures affect bone structure by disrupting the normal architecture of the bone, which can lead to improper loading and movement if not correctly aligned and healed. Proper alignment is crucial in the treatment of fractures to ensure that the bone heals in the correct anatomical position, preventing dysfunction and deformity, and restoring the bone's ability to bear weight and facilitate movement.
In the healing process, first, a hematoma forms, which is then invaded by inflammatory and healing cells. Osteoclasts remove damaged bone, and osteoblasts lay down new bone tissue. The healing bone will go through several stages, including the formation of soft callus made of cartilage and then a hard callus of bone, which is then remodeled over time to restore the original bone structure.