Pay Attention to Bone Fractures During The Pandemic Period!
Bones that can be broken as a result of traffic accidents, sports injuries and falls are defined as the strongest organ of the human body. The occurrence of bone fractures during the pandemic process causes patients to worry more. In people who do not want to go to the hospital due to Covid-19, incorrect union of fractures causes greater problems, while unconscious practices about fractures can prepare the ground for serious injuries.
Sometimes a simple fall, sometimes a serious accident can cause a fracture
Damage to the bone, which is like an organ with the surrounding muscles, tissues, joints and nerves, and the disruption of the integrity of the surrounding tissues is called fracture. Fractures occur as a result of exposure to loads that the bone cannot bear. Because the bones are very strong in young people, while stresses such as accidents, serious falls or serious sports injuries and high energy cause fractures; In children with flexible bones, fractures can occur with simpler falls. However, fractures can occur with simpler injuries such as falling at home in people over the age of 75-80 and with osteoporosis (bone resorption).
The gold standard in X-ray fracture detection
Most of the fractures can be detected by X-ray film. However, computed tomography is also performed in some special fractures such as intra-articular and joint circumference, spine and pelvic fractures. In case of soft tissue injury such as ligament injury in the knee together with fractures, an additional MRI image may be requested.
The method of fracture treatment is determined by age
The treatment method of fractures vary according to age. Most of the fractures except for some special joint fractures in children, and certain fractures in young adults are treated in the operating room under anesthesia or with local anesthesia after removing them and placing them in a plaster cast. However, in young adults and elderly patients, surgery is required for certain fractures such as joint fractures, some fractures of long bones, leg fractures, some fractures of the pelvis and hip joint fractures. The aim of the surgery is to restore the shape of the bone and prevent the deformation of the bone during the treatment by fixing the bone firmly.
In patients of advanced age, wrist or arm fractures can be treated with plaster, while the most common hip fractures should be treated with surgery. The goal of this operation is to make the patient immediately stand up and walk.
If the patient, who encounters a fracture during the pandemic process, is able to reach a health institution on his own, first of all, he should wrap the fracture in a cardboard or a clean piece of wood and fix it by bandaging. Considering that the environment will be intense in the health institution and there are other people around, masks, glasses or visors should be worn. However, the environment should not be touched too much, hands should be washed frequently or disinfectants should be used.
Don’t worry about the decision to have surgery
Some of the fractures that occur are treated surgically and some without surgery. Patients do not have to worry, especially during the coronavirus period, if surgical method is used in fracture treatment. In this process, all surgical procedures are carried out by taking the health and safety of patients first.
The surgery of people with negative test results is performed by taking special protection measures
In cases requiring surgical treatment, the patient is first evaluated by following the mask and distance rule, and then the coronavirus test is taken immediately. The operation of the patient, whose coronavirus test is negative, is carried out in private operating rooms and by taking special protection measures for the operation team. After the operation, the patient is discharged to the home environment at the most appropriate time required. The patient, whose home exercise program is arranged, should be followed at regular intervals for dressing.
Surgery should be postponed if there is no life-threatening risk for those with Covid
Surgical treatment should be avoided unless it is vital for those who have a positive coronavirus test and have an active disease. Because extra problems can be seen after surgery in patients with Covid. The general condition of these patients may deteriorate very quickly after surgery as a result of anesthesia or strokes. However, some diseases and fractures can threaten the patient’s life. In such cases, anesthesia, infection, chest diseases and orthopedic doctors make the decision of surgery as a team. After the decision of surgery is taken, this surgery should be performed in a private operating room with negative pressure. The aim here is not to harm the patient and to prevent the healthcare personnel from getting infection from the patient.
Delaying fracture treatment causes permanent damage
Failure of patients with a fracture in any of their limbs to admit to the hospital and perform their treatment due to Covid-19 may cause the broken bones to heal incorrectly. This situation, which may cause permanent damage and pain in the future, may become more difficult and troublesome to correct.
Strengthen your bones to avoid fractures
In the Covid 19 pandemic process, the following measures can be taken by taking the necessary protection and hygiene measures to strengthen bones and prevent fractures:
- Especially in the elderly, the decrease in movement and walking distance causes the bones and muscles to weaken. For this reason, people of all age groups should regulate their activities. Between 5 thousand and 7 thousand 500 steps should be taken daily inside or outside the house.
- Staying still and lying down for a long time causes the human balance to deteriorate, and the deterioration of balance causes the risk of falling. Doing ground exercises on a soft surface helps to maintain balance.
- Spending the pandemic process indoors prevents adequate vitamin D intake. It should be ensured that arms and legs are exposed to sunlight on the balcony for 20 minutes every day.
- Foods containing vitamin D should be consumed and if possible, supplemental vitamins and minerals should be taken if needed.
- Spending more time in the kitchen during the coronavirus process causes weight gain in people. While gaining weight increases the load on muscles and joints, this situation causes knee and hip calcification and pain in later years. Eating too much food should be avoided at home and foods with high calorie value such as pastry and frying should not be consumed.