Attention to Bone Fractures During 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, wrong union of fractures causes greater problems, while unconscious practices about fractures can prepare the ground for serious injuries. Professor of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Memorial Ankara Hospital. Dr. Hakan Özsoy gave information about bone fractures and treatment during the pandemic period.

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. Since 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 75-80 years of age 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.

Treatment method and 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, 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 in young adults and elderly patients. The purpose 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.

While wrist or arm fractures can be treated with a plaster cast in elderly patients, the most common hip fractures should be treated with surgery. The goal of this surgery is to get the patient up and walk away immediately.

Take your mask-distance-hygiene measure against coronavirus

If the patient, who encounters a fracture during the pandemic process, is able to reach a healthcare 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 a disinfectant should be used.

Don't worry about the decision of 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 a surgical method is to be used in fracture treatment. In this process, all surgical procedures are carried out by taking the health and safety of patients first.

People who test negative are 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. Postoperative patient should be the most suitable zamis currently discharged to the home environment. The patient, whose home exercise program is organized, 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 go to the hospital due to the concern of Covid-19 and not to perform their treatment 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 balance of the person to deteriorate, and the deterioration of the 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.
• More in the kitchen in the coronavirus process zamPassing the moment 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 excessively at home should be avoided and foods with high calorie value such as pastry and frying should not be consumed.