It’s easy to think there’s a one-size-fits-all solution to fracture care — until you’ve experienced a broken bone. That’s because numerous factors come into play, including the type and location of your break, as well as the health of the bone involved.
Fortunately, orthopedic expert Dr. Thomas F. Saylor has the expertise to ensure optimal healing when your broken bone needs extra support. Dr. Saylor’s practice, Orthopaedic Care Specialists in North Palm Beach, Florida, is renowned for providing high-caliber care for your hands and upper extremities.
In this blog, learn how Dr. Saylor uses bone grafting to support fracture healing and how the process works.
During a bone graft, Dr. Saylor puts a piece of transplanted bone into the area with damage or disease. It can be used almost anywhere in your body and could utilize your own or donated bone.
When used in fracture care, the bone graft is placed where your break needs to heal. The inserted tissue contains living cells that help make new bone.
As the healing process gets underway, these cells create new tissue that fuses to your existing bone nearby. Think of it as an extra framework for new healthy bone tissue to grow on.
Not all breaks require a bone graft. Instead, Dr. Saylor creates a fracture care strategy on a case-by-case basis.
Broken bones that often benefit from grafting include:
Dr. Saylor also uses bone grafts to address previously treated fractures that haven’t healed well.
Bone grafting procedures vary, depending on your injury. However, they usually start with anesthesia to ensure your comfort throughout the process.
If your graft comes from your body, Dr. Saylor takes the bone from the donor site — often your hips, legs, or ribs. Then, he makes an incision to access the fracture requiring the graft.
Once Dr. Saylor has access to your fracture site, he cleans the bone and removes damage or disease. At this point, he can insert the graft and secure it in place with hardware, like screws, wires, pins, or plates.
Finally, Dr. Saylor closes the incision site. In some cases, a fracture also requires a cast or splint for additional support throughout the healing process.
A bone graft can fuse into place within several weeks or up to a year, depending on its size and location. However, it’s essential to take the right steps to help support your recovery process.
Dr. Saylor provides personalized guidance based on your fracture. But generally speaking, you should plan on:
It’s also crucial to quit smoking. A leading cause of bone graft failure involves tobacco use since it slows bone growth and healing.
Could your fracture use bone grafting? Dr. Saylor can outline the best treatment strategy for your broken bone. Contact Orthopaedic Care Specialists by calling our office at 561-260-5993 today to book a consultation.
