Bone Fracture Healing Process

Front

What happens during hematoma formation in bone fracture healing?

Back

Torn blood vessels hemorrhage, forming a mass of clotted blood (hematoma) at the fracture site, causing swelling, pain, and inflammation.

Front

What is the first stage in healing a bone fracture?

Back

Fibrocartilaginous callus formation.

Front

What occurs during fibrocartilaginous callus formation?

Back

New capillaries form a few days after the fracture, capillaries grow into tissue, and phagocytic cells begin cleaning debris (clotted blood and dead tissue).

Front

What is the second stage in healing a bone fracture?

Back

Bony callus formation.

Front

What happens during bony callus formation?

Back

New spongy bone appears in the fibrocartilaginous callus, which converts into a bony (hard) callus. This begins 3-4 weeks after injury and continues for approximately 2-3 months.

Front

What is the final stage in healing a bone fracture?

Back

Bone remodeling.

Front

What occurs during bone remodeling?

Back

Excess material on the bone shaft and in the medullary canal is removed, compact bone is laid down to reconstruct shaft walls, and the bony callus is remodeled based on mechanical stresses placed on it.