The moment you realize you have broken a bone, you might start wondering what you need to do to make things right. Depending on the kind of break you sustained, you might be faced with anything from a simple cast to complex orthopedic surgery—and coping with a recovery. Here is a little more information about bone fracture healing time, and why different people heal at different speeds.

Understanding Bone Fracture Healing Time

What Factors Play Into Healing Time? 

The length of time it will take for your fracture to heal depends on a long list of variables, including your age, general health, and the type of fracture you sustained. For example, a young, healthy person with a simple fracture will heal faster than an older, ill individual who suffered a complex fracture.

Other complicating factors, such as lingering infections and your ability to complete physical rehabilitation, can also affect the amount of time it takes you to recover from your fracture. If you sustain a serious injury, orthopedic surgery might also be required to set the bone into alignment and correct the injury.

How Long Will It Take for Bone Fractures to Heal?

Because bones throughout the body are different shapes and sizes, they heal at different speeds. On average, fractures take between 3 to 12 weeks to heal, with smaller bones like the phalanges healing much quicker than large, long bones like the femur.

Immediately following a bone fracture, the area around the break forms a hematoma as a result of the inflammatory response. This hematoma signals the body to form granulation tissue between the break within seven to fourteen days, and these cells later differentiate into chondroblasts and fibroblasts, creating new, hardened bone.

If you need orthopedic surgery or treatment for a broken bone, Sturgis Hospital in Meade County, MI, can help. In addition to offering medical imaging and casting for broken bones, this state-of-the-art hospital can also help with medical nutrition, cardiac rehabilitation, and obstetrics. For more information about how Sturgis Hospital can help you or your family members, visit them online or call (269) 651-7824.