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Medical Disability Advisor  >  Fracture  >  Complications

Fracture

Related Terms

  • Bone Break
  • Compound Fracture
  • Crack Fracture
  • Failed-union Fracture
  • Greenstick Fracture
  • March Fracture
  • Nonunion Fracture
  • Open Fracture
  • Split Fracture
  • Stress Fracture

Differential Diagnoses

Specialists

  • Occupational Therapist
  • Orthopedic (Orthopaedic) Surgeon
  • Physiatrist
  • Physical Therapist

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Factors Influencing Duration

Dominant versus non-dominant side, weight bearing status, type of immobility device, treatment method, and associated complications affect length of disability. In addition, the bone, its location, and severity of fracture affect disability.

Medical Codes

ICD-9-CM:
733.1 - Pathologic Fracture; Spontaneous Fracture
767.2 - Birth Trauma; Fracture of Clavicle
800 - Fracture of Vault of Skull, Includes Parietal and Frontal Bone
801 - Fracture of Base of Skull; Anterior; Middle; Posterior; Occiput Bone; Orbital Roof; Ethmoid; Frontal; Sphenoid Bone; Temporal Bone
802 - Fracture, Face Bones
802.0 - Fracture, Nasal Bones, Closed
802.1 - Fracture, Nasal Bones, Open
802.2 - Fracture of Mandible, Closed, Inferior Maxilla; Lower Jaw (Bone)
803 - Other and Unqualified Skull Fractures
804 - Multiple Fractures involving Skull or Face with Other Bones
805 - Fracture of Vertebral Column without Mention of Spinal Cord Injury
806 - Fracture of Vertebral Column with Spinal Cord Injury
807.0 - Closed Fracture of Rib(s)
807.1 - Open Fracture of Rib(s)
808 - Fracture, Pelvis
810 - Fracture, Clavicle
811 - Fracture, Scapula (Shoulder Blades)
812 - Fracture of Humerus
812.0 - Closed Fracture of Upper End of Humerus
812.1 - Open Fracture of Upper End of Humerus
812.2 - Closed Fracture of Unspecified Part of Humerus
812.3 - Open Fracture of Shaft or Unspecified Part of Humerus
812.4 - Closed Fracture of Humerus, Distal End; Closed Fracture of Elbow
812.5 - Open Fracture of Lower End of Humerus
813 - Fracture of Radius and Ulna
813.0 - Fracture of Upper End of Radius and Ulna, Closed; Proximal End
813.1 - Open Fracture of Radius and Ulna, Upper End
813.2 - Closed Fracture of Shaft of Radius and Ulna
813.3 - Fracture, Radius and Ulna, Shaft, Open
813.4 - Closed Fracture of Lower End of Forearm
813.5 - Fracture, Lower End of Forearm, Open
813.8 - Closed Fracture of Unspecified Part of Radius with Ulna
813.9 - Open Fracture of Unspecified Part of Radius with Ulna
814 - Fracture of Carpal Bone(s)
815 - Fracture of Metacarpal Bone(s)
816 - Fracture, Phalanges of Hand (One or More)
820 - Fracture of Neck of Femur
821 - Fracture of Femur, Other and Unspecified Parts
822.0 - Closed Fracture of Patella
822.1 - Open Fracture of Patella
823.0 - Closed Fracture of Upper End of Tibia or Fibula
823.1 - Open Fracture of Upper End of Tibia or Fibula
823.2 - Closed Fracture of Shaft of Tibia or Fibula
823.3 - Open Fracture of Shaft of Tibia or Fibula
823.8 - Closed Fracture of Tibia and Fibula, Unspecified Part
823.9 - Open Fracture of Tibia and Fibula, Unspecified Part
824 - Fracture of Ankle
824.0 - Closed Fracture of Medial Malleolus: Closed Fracture of Tibia Involving Ankle, Malleolus
824.1 - Open Fracture of Medial Malleolus
824.2 - Closed Fracture of Lateral Malleolus
824.3 - Open Fracture of Lateral Malleolus
824.4 - Closed Bimalleolar Fracture; Potts Fracture
824.5 - Open Bimalleolar Fracture
824.6 - Closed Trimalleolar Fracture
824.7 - Open Trimalleolar Fracture
825 - Fracture of Tarsal and Metatarsal Bones, One or More
825.0 - Closed Fracture of Calcaneus (Heel Bone)
825.1 - Open Fracture of Calcaneus (Heel Bone)
826.0 - Closed Fracture of Phalanges of Foot, One or More
826.1 - Open Fracture of Phalanges of Foot, One or More

Complications

Serious and life-threatening complications can occur to other parts of the body from material released into the bloodstream at the time of fracture. These include injury to the lungs (emboli of fat or blood clot), blood vessels (vein thrombosis, compartment syndrome) and infection. Fat embolism, an occasional complication of long bone fractures, can occur as a result of bone marrow releasing fat into the veins following a fracture. This fat can lodge in the lungs where it obstructs blood flow or pass into the arteries where it can cause central nervous system changes. Fat embolism occurs 12 to 48 hours following fracture and is capable of producing a wide range of symptoms. These include fever, increased heart rate and breathing, blood-tinged sputum, rash, cyanosis, anxiety, restlessness, altered level of consciousness, convulsions, and coma. Fat embolism is rare but may occur with tibial or femoral shaft fractures. Damage to structures near the fracture, such as blood vessels, nerves, or ligaments will complicate treatment and adversely affect the outcome. Complex regional pain syndrome (RSD) is an example of these problems.

Infection in either the bone (osteomyelitis), joint, or in the soft tissues requires treatment, and can delay healing. Fractures that have been successfully reduced may later shift out of position. This is especially true of fractures around the wrist. Stiffening of joints (contracture) or damage resulting in looseness of the joint (laxity) prolongs treatment. Coexisting trauma that would delay treatment of the fracture can complicate healing.

Cigarette smoking delays bone healing, as does any other problem with blood circulation or oxygen delivery. Noncompliance with treatment (such as removing protective devices) results in motion across the fracture, which prevents or delays healing (nonunion or delayed union). Degenerative arthritis often occurs in joints that have been injured.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and corticosteroids may delay fracture healing. A healthy patient can usually compensate for the effects of a single low dose anti-inflammatory. Patients taking multiple simultaneous anti-inflammatories are at increased risk of delayed fracture union.

Source: Medical Disability Advisor






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