Fracture Complications

Fractures of the bones are common, and require proper treatment through casting, splints, bracing and sometimes surgery. In some cases, complications may arise as a result of the fracture. These complications may include:

• Infection
• Curved or crooked bones from fractures that were set incorrectly

Symptoms of Fracture Complications

Outward signs of fracture complications may not always be easy to see. General signs of an infected bone may include:

• Bone pain
• Swelling
• Redness and warmth at or near the fracture site

Bones that have been set incorrectly usually result in a crooked limb or one that does not move easily.

Treatment for Fracture Complications:

Shriners Hospitals for Children^® treats the complications that your child may experience as a result of a fracture. Some of our treatments offered include:

Surgery – Depending on the severity of your child’s fracture complication, surgery may be needed to remove infected tissue, or to insert corrective hardware to help straighten and/or support the bone or joint.

Re-casting – Casts are one of the most common treatments for mending a fractured bone. In cases of infected or crooked bones, the bone may need to be re-broken and have a new cast put in place to facilitate healing.

Amputations – When a broken bone has become severely infected amputation may be required to protect the rest of the limb and the body from further infection. At Shriners Hospitals for Children amputations are done with the goal of minimizing the amount of the limb that is lost, and creating a structure that can successfully support a prosthetic device when appropriate.