Page 42 - Orthopedic Casting Manual

4.2o Bone Healing Following Injury

Introduction: Bones are essential structures in the human body, ser ving as the framewor k for suppor t, protection
of vital organs, and facilitation of movement. Despite their strength and resilience, bones are not imper vious to
injur y. Trauma, repetitive stress, or under lying medic al conditions c an resul t in fractures,
disrupting the integr it y of these cr itic al structures. Understanding the bone he aling process is essential for
he al thc are professionals, as it provides the foundation for effective management of fractures and ensures
optimal recover y outcomes. Bone he aling is a complex, mul ti-stage process that involves coordinated cellular
and molecular events aimed at restor ing the bone's or iginal structure and function.
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Stages of Bone He aling Bone he aling occurs in four over lapping stages: inflammation, soft c allus for mation, hard
c allus for mation, and remodeling. Each stage is character ized by specific biologic al processes and cellular
activities that contr ibute to the rep air and restoration of the bone.