2021 ICD-10-CM Code M80.862G

Information for Patients

Also called: Broken bone

A fracture is a break, usually in a bone. If the broken bone punctures the skin, it is called an open or compound fracture. Fractures commonly happen because of car accidents, falls, or sports injuries. Other causes are low bone density and osteoporosis, which cause weakening of the bones. Overuse can cause stress fractures, which are very small cracks in the bone.

Symptoms of a fracture are

• Intense pain
• Deformity - the limb looks out of place
• Swelling, bruising, or tenderness around the injury
• Numbness and tingling
• Problems moving a limb

You need to get medical care right away for any fracture. An x-ray can tell if your bone is broken. You may need to wear a cast or splint. Sometimes you need surgery to put in plates, pins or screws to keep the bone in place.

• Broken bone (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Closed reduction of a fractured bone (Medical Encyclopedia)
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Your legs are made up of bones, blood vessels, muscles, and other connective tissue. They are important for motion and standing. Playing sports, running, falling, or having an accident can damage your legs. Common leg injuries include sprains and strains, joint dislocations, and fractures.

These injuries can affect the entire leg, or just the foot, ankle, knee, or hip. Certain diseases also lead to leg problems. For example, knee osteoarthritis, common in older people, can cause pain and limited motion. Problems in your veins in your legs can lead to varicose veins or deep vein thrombosis.

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• Femoral nerve dysfunction (Medical Encyclopedia)
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• Foot, leg, and ankle swelling (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Iliotibial band syndrome -- aftercare (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Ischemic ulcers -- self-care (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Knock knees (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Leg pain (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Shin splints - self-care (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Tibial nerve dysfunction (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Venous insufficiency (Medical Encyclopedia)

Osteoporosis is a disease that thins and weakens the bones. Your bones become fragile and break easily, especially the bones in the hip, spine, and wrist. In the United States, millions of people either already have osteoporosis or are at high risk due to low bone mass.

Anyone can develop osteoporosis, but it is more common in older women. Risk factors include

• Getting older
• Being small and thin
• Having a family history of osteoporosis
• Taking certain medicines
• Being a white or Asian woman
• Having low bone density

Osteoporosis is a silent disease. You might not know you have it until you break a bone. A bone mineral density test is the best way to check your bone health.

To keep bones strong, eat a diet rich in calcium and vitamin D, exercise, and do not smoke. If needed, medicines can also help. It is also important to try to avoid falling down. Falls are the number one cause of fractures in older adults.

NIH: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

• Bone mineral density test (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Calcium, vitamin D, and your bones (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Exercise, lifestyle, and your bones (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Medicines for osteoporosis (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Osteoporosis (Medical Encyclopedia)
• What causes bone loss? (Medical Encyclopedia)