Bone Fractures in Grand Rapids, MI

Bone fractures (broken bones) are common injuries in West Michigan, especially during icy Grand Rapids winters and active summer months. A fracture occurs when a force on the bone is stronger than the bone can withstand, disrupting its structure and causing pain, loss of function, and sometimes bleeding and swelling around the injury.

In Grand Rapids, bone fractures are frequently treated at major hospitals and orthopedic clinics, including:

  • Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital and Blodgett Hospital
  • Trinity Health Grand Rapids
  • University of Michigan Health–West (Metro Health)
  • Mercy Health and affiliated orthopedic practices

Kent County residents can also access information and injury-prevention programs through the Kent County Health Department and Grand Rapids Public Health resources.

What Our Bones and Skeleton Do

Your skeleton has three main jobs:

  • Supporting your body
  • Allowing movement (with the help of muscles, tendons, and joints)
  • Protecting vital organs (such as the brain, heart, and lungs)

Bones are made of strong connective tissue reinforced with calcium and bone cells. Inside many bones is a softer center called bone marrow, where blood cells are produced.

Common Causes of Bone Fractures in Grand Rapids

In Grand Rapids and across Michigan, bone fractures often result from:

  • Slips and falls on ice and snow (very common in winter and early spring)
  • Sports injuries (football, hockey, soccer, basketball, skiing, snowboarding, running)
  • Vehicle and bicycle accidents
  • Work-related injuries, including falls from ladders or heavy lifting
  • Osteoporosis – thinning of the bones, common in older adults, especially postmenopausal women
  • Certain cancers or bone diseases that weaken bone structure

Conditions like osteoporosis mean even minor trauma (such as a small fall at home) can cause serious fractures, especially of the hip, wrist, and spine.

Symptoms of a Bone Fracture

Symptoms depend on which bone is broken and how severe the injury is, but may include:

  • Sudden, severe pain at the site of injury
  • Swelling and bruising
  • Inability to use or bear weight on the limb
  • Deformity (the limb looks “out of place” or misshapen)
  • Tenderness to touch
  • Possible bleeding if the bone has pierced the skin

If you’re unsure whether an injury is a sprain, dislocation, or fracture, treat it as a fracture and seek medical care. Sometimes a person may have more than one type of injury at the same time.

Types of Bone Fractures

Closed (Simple) Fracture

  • The bone is broken but has not pierced the skin.
  • Infection risk is lower than with an open fracture, but it is still a serious injury.

Open (Compound) Fracture

  • The broken bone pierces the skin or is visible in the wound.
  • High risk of infection and significant bleeding.
  • Requires urgent treatment, often surgery, at a hospital such as Spectrum Health or Trinity Health Grand Rapids.

Greenstick Fracture

  • A small, slender crack where the bone bends and partially breaks.
  • More common in children, because their bones are more flexible than adult bones.
  • Often seen in forearm fractures after falls.

Hairline (Stress) Fracture

  • A tiny, thin crack in the bone.
  • Often caused by repeated stress, such as jogging, running, or jumping sports.
  • Common in the foot, ankle, and lower leg, especially in runners and athletes training on hard surfaces.

Complicated Fracture

  • Surrounding structures (veins, arteries, nerves, muscles, or the bone covering called the periosteum) are also injured.
  • May cause significant internal bleeding or nerve damage.
  • These fractures can be life-threatening and need emergency care.

Comminuted Fracture

  • The bone is shattered into several pieces.
  • Often due to high-impact trauma (vehicle crashes, falls from height).
  • Tends to heal more slowly and often requires surgery with plates, screws, or rods.

Avulsion Fracture

  • A powerful muscle contraction pulls a tendon or ligament so hard that it pulls off a small piece of bone.
  • More common around the knee and shoulder joints.
  • Often seen in athletes during sudden starts, stops, or changes in direction.

Compression Fracture

  • Occurs when two bones are forced against each other.
  • Common in the spine (vertebrae), especially in older adults with osteoporosis.
  • Can cause back pain and loss of height over time.

Serious Fractures of the Head, Chest, Spine, and Pelvis

Not all fractures involve arms or legs. Trauma to the:

  • Skull (head injury)
  • Ribs and chest
  • Spine
  • Pelvis

can be very serious. These fractures are complicated by the vital organs they protect:

  • Skull fractures can damage the brain
  • Rib fractures can injure the lungs and heart
  • Pelvic fractures can damage internal organs and cause heavy internal bleeding

These injuries can be life-threatening and are difficult to manage with first aid alone. Always call 911 immediately if you suspect:

  • Skull or spinal fracture
  • Chest trauma with breathing difficulty
  • Pelvic fracture
  • Major trauma from a car crash or fall from height

Possible Complications of Bone Fractures

Complications can include:

  • Blood loss – bones have a rich blood supply; a bad break can cause major internal or external bleeding
  • Injury to organs, tissues, or structures – for example:
    • Brain injury with skull fractures
    • Lung injury with rib fractures
  • Infection – especially with open (compound) fractures
  • Poor alignment of the limb – if the bone does not heal in the correct position
  • Stunted growth in children – if a long bone breaks near the growth plate
  • Blood clots – especially in leg fractures and after surgery

Prompt diagnosis and treatment at a Grand Rapids emergency department can reduce the risk of these complications.

First Aid for Bone Fractures

Why First Aid Matters

Moving broken bones can increase pain, bleeding, and damage to nearby tissues, nerves, and blood vessels. Good first aid focuses on immobilizing (limiting movement of) the injured area until professional help is available.

What to Do if You Suspect a Fracture

  1. Keep the person still

    • Do not move them unless there is immediate danger (fire, traffic, etc.).
    • Be especially careful if you suspect a fracture of the skull, spine, ribs, pelvis, or upper leg.

  2. Attend to any bleeding wounds first

    • Apply firm pressure with a clean dressing or cloth.
    • If a bone is protruding, apply pressure around the wound, not directly on the bone.
    • Once bleeding is controlled, keep the wound covered.

  3. Never try to straighten broken bones

    • Do not push bones back into place.
    • Do not allow the person to “walk it off” or use the injured limb.

  4. Support the injured limb

    • Use pillows, folded blankets, or clothing to support the limb in the most comfortable position.
    • Avoid unnecessary movement.

  5. Apply a splint if you are trained and materials are available

    • Splints do not have to be professional devices.
    • You can use:
      • Wooden boards
      • Rolled-up newspapers or folded magazines
      • Sturdy cardboard
    • Immobilize the joints above and below the fracture.
    • Secure with bandages, cloth strips, or tape – not too tight.

  6. Use a sling for arm or collarbone fractures

    • A triangular bandage, scarf, or piece of cloth can support the arm and reduce pain.

  7. Apply a cold pack

    • Use an ice pack or a bag of frozen vegetables wrapped in a cloth.
    • Apply for up to 20 minutes at a time to reduce pain and swelling.
    • Do not place ice directly on the skin.

  8. Do not give food or drink

    • The person may need surgery; an empty stomach is safer for anesthesia.

  9. Call 911 in an emergency

    • For severe pain, obvious deformity, open fractures, head or spine injury, chest or pelvic fractures, or if in doubt, call an ambulance.

In Grand Rapids, emergency medical services can transport patients to nearby hospitals such as Spectrum Health Butterworth, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, or Metro Health for definitive care.

Diagnosis of Bone Fractures

Doctors in Grand Rapids hospitals and urgent care centers diagnose fractures using:

  • X-rays – the most common and quickest test
  • CT scan (Computed Tomography) – provides more detailed images, often used for complex fractures of the spine, pelvis, or joints
  • MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) – helpful for stress fractures, soft tissue injuries, and some complex fractures

These imaging tests help determine the type of fracture, its exact location, and the best treatment plan.

Treatment of Bone Fractures

Broken bones heal naturally over time. Medical treatment focuses on:

  • Lining up the bone pieces correctly
  • Keeping them stable while they heal
  • Managing pain and preventing complications

Depending on the location and severity of the fracture, treatment may include:

  • Splints – to limit movement of the broken limb in the early phase
  • Braces – to support the bone while allowing some controlled movement
  • Plaster or fiberglass cast – a hard shell (often plaster of Paris or fiberglass) that immobilizes the bone
  • Traction – less common now, but sometimes used to gently pull bones into alignment
  • Surgically inserted metal rods, plates, or screws – to hold bone pieces together (internal fixation)
  • External fixators – pins above and below the fracture attached to a frame outside the body
  • Pain relief – medications to control pain and inflammation

Closed (Simple) Fractures

  • The broken bone ends are gently manipulated into position (reduction) without opening the skin.
  • A cast or splint is then applied to keep the bone in place while it heals.

Open (Compound) Fractures

  • These fractures are treated in the operating room.
  • The wound and bone are thoroughly cleaned to remove dirt and debris and reduce infection risk.
  • The bone is then set and stabilized with a cast, internal fixation, or external fixation.

Long Bone Fractures (e.g., Femur, Tibia)

  • In adults, long bones like the thigh bone (femur) are often stabilized with internal nailing – a metal rod inside the bone.
  • Children may need traction for a few days, followed by a cast.
  • In some cases, pins are inserted above and below the fracture and connected to an external frame.

All of these procedures are done under anesthesia, usually in a hospital such as Spectrum Health or Trinity Health Grand Rapids.

Immediately After Surgery or Casting

After treatment, your healthcare team will:

  • Check that you have normal feeling and movement beyond the fracture (e.g., asking you to wiggle your fingers or toes)
  • Assess for:
    • Tingling or numbness
    • Pale or bluish skin color
    • Coolness of the limb

These checks ensure that the cast, splint, or surgical hardware is not affecting blood flow or nerve function. Nurses will:

  • Offer pain-relieving medication
  • Monitor swelling and comfort
  • Adjust supports or dressings if needed

How Broken Bones Heal

Bone healing happens in stages:

  1. Blood clot formation

    • Blood clots form at the broken ends of the bone and start the healing process.

  2. Soft callus formation (about 1–5 weeks)

    • The body creates a bridge of fibrous tissue and cartilage between the two bone ends.
    • This temporary bone (callus) is weaker than normal bone and can break easily.

  3. Hard bone formation and remodeling (weeks to months)

    • The callus is gradually replaced by stronger, real bone.
    • Over several months, the bone reshapes itself to return to its normal structure.

Because the callus is weak at first, your doctor may remove your cast or splint after a few weeks, but you must still treat the bone carefully for at least another month.

  • Some bones, like the collarbone or toes, may be immobilized with a sling or splint (rather than a full cast) and rested for about 2 months.
  • Leg fractures often take several months to fully heal.

Unlike skin, bones usually heal without forming scar tissue, but the area may remain slightly thicker or different on X-ray.

Self-Care and Cast Care After a Bone Fracture

Proper self-care helps prevent complications and supports healing.

Caring for Your Cast

  • Do not get your cast wet

    • Wet plaster becomes soft and loses support.
    • Wet casts can irritate and damage your skin.
    • When showering, wrap the cast in a plastic bag and tape it directly to your skin to keep it watertight.

  • Avoid direct heat

    • Until the cast has set properly, do not use hot water bottles, heating pads, or sit close to heaters.

  • Do not insert objects under the cast

    • If your skin is itchy, do not use coat hangers, pencils, or other objects.
    • Instead, use a hairdryer on a cool setting to blow air into the cast.

  • Rest the limb as much as possible

    • Follow your doctor’s advice on how much weight you can put on the limb.
    • Use crutches, walkers, or slings correctly as shown by nurses or physical therapists.

Activity and Safety

  • Avoid lifting, driving, or strenuous activity until your doctor says it is safe.
  • Learn safe techniques for walking with crutches or using mobility aids to prevent falls and further injury.
  • Attend all follow-up appointments – your doctor may order repeat X-rays to check healing and alignment.

When to See a Doctor Urgently

Contact your doctor or return to the emergency department immediately if you notice:

  • Increasing pain that is not relieved by medication
  • Swelling, tightness, or severe discomfort under the cast
  • Bluish or pale fingers or toes
  • Numbness, tingling, or loss of movement
  • Foul odor or discharge from under the cast
  • Fever, chills, or signs of infection

In Grand Rapids, you can seek urgent evaluation at:

  • Spectrum Health emergency departments and urgent care centers
  • Trinity Health Grand Rapids emergency department
  • Metro Health – University of Michigan Health urgent care clinics
  • Mercy Health emergency and immediate care centers

Rehabilitation and Long-Term Outlook

Because immobilized muscles weaken and shrink, you may need rehabilitation once the bone is stable:

  • Physical therapy to restore strength, flexibility, and balance
  • Occupational therapy to help you safely perform daily activities

Most fractures heal well with proper treatment and follow-up. However, some may leave:

  • Mild stiffness or decreased range of motion
  • A slightly altered bone shape
  • Ongoing risk if the underlying cause (like osteoporosis) is not treated

In Michigan, where icy conditions are common, fall prevention and bone health (calcium, vitamin D, weight-bearing exercise, and osteoporosis screening) are especially important for older adults.

Where to Get Help in Grand Rapids, MI

If you suspect a bone fracture:

  • Call 911 in an emergency (severe pain, deformity, open fracture, head, spine, chest, or pelvic injury).
  • Visit the emergency department of your nearest hospital:
    • Spectrum Health Butterworth or Blodgett
    • Trinity Health Grand Rapids
    • Metro Health – University of Michigan Health
    • Mercy Health emergency departments

For non-life-threatening fractures or follow-up care:

  • Your primary care doctor (GP)
  • Local urgent care clinics in Grand Rapids and Kent County
  • Orthopedic and sports medicine clinics affiliated with Spectrum Health, Trinity Health, Metro Health, and Mercy Health
  • Kent County Health Department and Grand Rapids Public Health for information on fall prevention, osteoporosis, and community health programs

Early diagnosis, proper treatment, and careful self-care can help residents of Grand Rapids recover fully from bone fractures and return safely to work, school, and activities.