Torus Fracture - Treatment | Symptoms | Healing

A Brief Overview of Torus Fracture

Torus fracture is an injury that could happen to anybody, but it is quite common in children. This can be attributed to the fact that children’s bones are softer compared to that of adults, and their bones have the tendency to buckle. Thus, it results to buckle torus fracture. To familiarize yourself with how this kind of bone fracture was known and named as such, the word “Torus” was derived from the Latin term called “Tori,” which translates to swelling.

For a clearer torus fracture definition, it is basically a bone injury that occurs when one side bends but does not break completely. Because of this, it has been classified as an incomplete fracture. Also known as greenstick fracture or buckle fracture, it often occurs in the shin and forearm. There is also the torus fractured wrist and torus fracture distal radius, among others.

Torus fractures are often sustained as a result of falling, especially if the hand was outstretched during that unfortunate event. If you want to know about torus fracture treatment, you will find some answers in this article. Please take note however that it is always recommended that you get in touch with a doctor should you or anyone you know develop a torus fracture so that a complete fracture diagnosis can be made.

Types of Torus Fractures

There is more than one torus type fracture and this is because torus would mean incomplete. What this means is that a lot of bones could be subject to injury (fracture) and they could be classified as a complete or incomplete break in the bone. This is why you could get torus fractures in the shin, forearm, and wrists, as well as other different parts of the body. To be sure of what kind of fracture you have, it is recommended that you check on the signs and symptoms as well as determine where the pain is coming from exactly. To be sure, you can get a diagnosis from a doctor or proceed to the laboratory for an Xray. Doing so could help prevent possible fracture complications because if you misdiagnose or fail to get treatment for the fracture, it could lead to other problems later on.

Symptoms of a Torus Fracture

Just like almost all fractures such as the tripod fracture, one of the most common indications of a torus fracture is severe pain. When you got into an accident such as a slip or a fall and you feel pain in one part of your body, it is likely that you have a torus fracture.

Aside from pain, it is also common to see deformity in the damaged area. For distal radius torus fracture, you might notice a slight difference in location and configuration. When this happens and you feel pain when you touch the area, it could be another indication.

And of course, along with pain and deformity, you would also experience swelling in the affected area. This is particularly evident in radius torus fracture.

Torus Fracture in Children

As mentioned, this particular bone fracture is common in children due to the softness in their bones and the fact that kids are more energetic and mobile than adults. Often times, children get them from falling down with arms that are outstretched, falling off while skateboarding or on roller skates, falling off their bikes, and falling off their beds. You would most likely figure out that your child has this fracture because you would see redness in the affected area after the fall and if the child would cry in pain every time the bone is moved or touched. However, to be sure, you should take your child to the doctor or get an Xray.

Torus Fracture Tibia

A torus fracture could affect many different bones in the body. The torus fractured tibia is basically an incomplete fracture in the lower leg’s most major bone—the tibia. Otherwise known as the shin bone, it is often prone to injuries due to the fact that we use our legs often. Torus fractures in the tibia is a result of car injuries, falls, and sports activities. People’s susceptibility to this kind of fracture would depend on age, health, and lifestyle.

Torus Fracture of Distal Radius

The torus buckle fracture affecting the distal radius is yet another common fracture. It affects the wrists so it is often referred to as a wrist fracture. Because it is merely a torus fracture and not one that requires an operation, this condition can be treated through rehab and rest. Take note however that proper care should be given to the use of the arms, hands, and wrists so as not to cause this kind of injury. Although it does not result in a complete break in the bone, it is nevertheless a very uncomfortable condition that you wouldn’t want to deal with.

Torus Fracture Treatment, Healing Time and Recovery

If you want to know the right ways to treat fractured torus bone, read further. The good news is that oftentimes, the fracture is quick to heal. However, in most cases, the patient would be required to use a fracture cast, or what is usually known as braces. This is done so that the affected area would be immobilized. As you probably know, when a bone is fractured, it should not be moved so that it will be given the time to heal and recover. And aside from this, when you make use of casts and braces, you would also feel lesser pain in the affected area.

There are times when rehabilitation is needed especially for the torus fracture of the radius or the torus fracture of the distal radius. The objective here is to be able to decrease the pain and hasten the recovery time. Rehab includes some home exercises that are often performed under the supervision of a medical expert such as an occupational therapist or a doctor. However, after just a couple of weeks, the patient or the patient’s caregiver would simply be given a set of instructions so he or she can work on the rehab independently.

How to Prevent Torus Fractures

Prevention is always better than cure. You could have the best doctors and the best treatment for a bone fracture or injury but this would still not spare you from some pain and loss of time. For example, even if you get treated for an injury, it would still take some time before you could do the things you are normally able to do. If you have a foot fracture, it would take weeks and even months before you could walk normally again. And this is probably not something you’d wish would happen to you.

This is why knowing how to prevent torus bone fracture from taking place is always a good thing. As noted in the previous paragraphs, torus fractures are common in children. To help them prevent getting the fracture, it is always advisable to keep homes and schools safe from possible slips and falls. Kids tend to run and play most of the time so keeping the areas they frequent safe would definitely help. Moreover, taking calcium supplements for adults would also help to avoid bones from being brittle. Being careful in any sports activity would also save you from injuries. So, if you are a football player, you should always take care of your body and do what you can to avoid incurring any injuries as a result of your practice and play.

Now that you have learned some valuable insights about the torus buckle fracture, hopefully, you will not have to deal with this kind of injury. And if in the unfortunate event that you get this injury, it is always best to see a doctor so that he or she can tell you the best way to get treated.