Patients who come for x-ray with fractured bones. They are always in a hurry to ask how long it will take for the bone to heal. In medical terms we call it consolidation time.
In this article I will provide an overview of the typical consolidation time of a broken bone and factors which can precisely influence this consolidation time.
It will be up to you to try these healing behaviours that might help speed the healing process along so that you do not involuntarily slow it down instead.
You will gain more insights and likely feel a bit more reassured during this recovery period!
Towards the end of the article, you will find the scientific publications I have referenced, in addition to drawing from my own experience as a diagnostic radiographer.
Enjoy reading!😀 and feel free to drop a comment or question if needed.🙏
Last updated: May 2024. Written by Juliet Semakula, diagnostic radiographer.
Disclaimer: no affiliate links.
Summary: After 6 weeks you should start seeing healing of a broken bone. Only a post check-up x-ray can verify this, and many factors can extend this consolidation time. You can help with the healing by acting on some of them.
▶️What does it feel like to break a bone physically and mentally.
When you have had a fracture (broken bone) in some way or the other every aspect of your daily life will be affected. Depending on the type of fracture and treatment you have. For example!
🟤A cast
🟤Functional brace or cast that allows limited and controlled movement.
🟤Or you have gone through open reduction to surgically repair and stabilise your bone.
Most patients I see who come for x-ray after they have had a fracture or treatment always confess feeling sad, depressed, or even angry after their injury.
This brings physical and mental frustration and most of the time, they can’t explain why. This is attributed to broken bone depression.
Mental frustration will often mean you feel like you have lost your mobility or ability to perform basic tasks until you recover.
Sitting on the couch at home while everything is being done for you will feel nice, but it will not take long for you to start feeling guilty and bored, as well as pining over your lost independence.
You will start asking questions that everyone with a broken bone hopes to have a simple answer.
1️⃣What can I do to make this bone heal faster?
2️⃣What is the fracture healing time?
The Good News is! With expert care, you can face the road to recovery with the tools you need to avoid future complications.
▶️What to expect during the first few weeks after your fracture treatment.
What does ‘a bone that heals’ mean?
When you break a bone, you wonder how long it will take to heal. A bone that heals means all the cracks and fragments are put back together so that your bone becomes solid again and you can resume all your usual functions.
In medical language let’s try to understand the mechanisms related to bone healing (4 stages of fracture healing).
Some research teams publish the results of their findings in scientific journals on the estimate of bone consolidation. We can rely on such data to estimate bone healing.
▶️Bone consolidation or healing.
Stage 1️⃣: Hematoma formation
The first time you break a bone, your body will release an internal alert to your body cells which will immediately start working.
On the surface of the fracture site, it will appear swollen but, on the inside, a well-orchestrated orchestra of cells will be forming a good sort of clot called the phagocytes.
These phagocytes will begin consuming your undesired bacteria or pieces of bone that broke off from the fracture site.
This process will take one to two weeks of healing.
Stage 2️⃣: Development of fibrocartilaginous callus.
In stage two your bone healing process begins. Here your white blood cells may have gotten rid of all the leftover bacteria and debris.
Here ends of the bone will now try to unite and stabilise one another this will take 4 to 21 days.
Here your bone producing cells will convert into bone cells so they may begin forming new bone tissue called callus.
You will need a cast for some time to safeguard it because it must be protected as it heals.
In this stage your bone will start to harden at each end and then moves toward the middle this will last one to two months
Stage 3️⃣: Development of bony calluses.
Here your soft fibrocartilaginous callus will be replaced by a bony callus in the weeks that will follow as your bone heals. These are minerals from your body which will help harden your bone and it will feel like before the fracture.
Here also new blood vessels which will help to support healing. This process can happen between 6 to 12 weeks following a fracture.
Stage 4️⃣: Bone remodelling.
Here the breakdown of any additional bone that is developed to protect the fracture site until it heals and returns to normal shape by cells called osteoclasts.
This stage takes 3 to 9 years, but the good news is your bone is strong, and you can go back to your normal activities like before with a little bit of being careful. this should not scare you.
You will start feeling more energetic and the broken bone will begin to look the way it did before your injury.
At this stage your pain should start improving, and it is also common to begin physical therapy during this time.
As you can see, it often takes several months or even years for your bone to return to its perfect state.
Bone support and recovery will depend on your rehabilitation and your lifestyle choices.
How do we know how long it takes for a bone to heal?
Rehabilitation can vary from the type of fracture and location, your health before the fracture and your age.
Fracture healing is normally assessed through an interpretation of
🟧Radiographs, x-rays check
🟧Clinical evaluation, including pain on weight bearing.
🟧And a manual assessment of the mobility of the fracture.
According to some researchers these assessments are subjective and their accuracy in determining when a fracture has healed has been questioned (Claes,2009).
In mechanical terms, fracture healing represents a steady increase in strength and stiffness of a broken bone, and it is only when these values are sufficiently high to support unrestricted weight bearing that a fracture can be said to be healed.
Cunningham,2009:
It should also be noted that delay in healing for some long bone fractures is caused by several factors:
↪️ Long bones such as tibial fractures are more critical regarding complications and delayed healing and therefore need more careful assessment and rehabilitation.
↪️Some bones like tibial fractures also have less soft tissue and muscle cover, which can lead to delayed healing.
↪️For patients treated with external or internal fixation, a cast and non-invasive methods. Here measurements of fracture healing can be difficult to assess.
Windhagen,2000:
There is a lot of scientific research on bone consolidation times. We can therefore rely on these publications, in addition to the direct experience of doctors, surgeons, patients who are victims, physiotherapists and radiographers who follow up patients with broken bones.
▶️What is the average consolidation time of the fracture?
Overall consolidation time will depend on the type of broken bone, the area, age, and your general health.
| Bone type | Approximate consolidation time | Why does it take longer or shorter |
| Short bone e.g., wrist, ankle & hand | 4 to 8 weeks | Heal quicker due to their small size and closeness of the fracture fragments |
| Long bone e.g., tibia, femur & humerus | 6 weeks to several months | Take longer to heal because they are more complex and require more extensive bone restoration. |
| Pelvis, skull, facial bones | More variable, several weeks to months | The consolidation time is more variable in these bones. |
| Extremity fractures such as toes, fingers | Approximately 4 to 6 weeks | Heal quicker due to the smaller size of the bone and healing magnitude. |
How long does it take for a bone to heal depending on its location?
▶️Recommend healing behaviours that will help speed the healing process! These will depend on your lifestyle choices.
When you have had a broken bone, you will feel disturbed, which is understandable with potentially unsatisfying answers.
‘The reality is, the fastest way to heal a broken bone is to closely follow the instructions of your doctor and physiotherapist.’
Estimated Fracture healing time! (Short bones and long bones).
Your age, health and the location of the fracture all affect how quickly your fracture will heal. Now stop googling and start focusing on healing and rehabilitation of your fracture.
Your role in the recovery process
🟣Following your doctor’s instructions, take your pain medication as instructed.
🟣Try to rest and get enough sleep when you can.
🟣Involving physical therapy or workouts that will help develop bones in your routine.
🟣Eating a health and nutritious diet, rich in protein, minerals vitamin D and calcium will provide your body with necessary energy.
🟣Quitting or limit smoking and alcohol while your fracture is healing.
Caution! However, you can try all these but do not be alarmed if your bone is not healing as you thought.
▶️There are other factors that can influence the time it takes for a fracture to heal.
♦️ Advanced age, sometimes if you are above 65 years old, there is a weakness in your immune response, and bone consolidation mechanism.
♦️Being obese
♦️Being anaemic and deficient in vitamin D and calcium.
♦️Disease like diabetes, menopause and hyperthyroidism
♦️ Taking certain medications (NSAIDs and corticosteroids) for a long period.
Source: Sheen 2023
▶️Why is it important when you break a bone to allow it to consolidate/ heal?
I will answer you in a few lines why your role in recovery is very important.
1) To prevent any complications because a broken bone can be unstable and can cause pain, swelling and deformities.
2) Help you regain your full ability to do things and gain your mobility. Once your bone is healed you can put weight on it, and it is able to resist any applied forces.
3) Preventing infections helps to reduce any kind of bacteria which can cause infection to your bones.
4) To reduce pain and discomfort: un-union fractures can cause ongoing pain and discomfort because unstable bone fragments can rub against each other.
5) Maintain your body structure: consolidation ensures that your body structure is maintained, helping your general physical fitness.
Good bone consolidation is what will help you regain the abilities you had before your fracture and to avoid further complications.
On average it takes around 6 weeks for a bone to be well on its way to consolidation.
Hope I have answered some of the questions you have about fracture consolidation.
Wishing you a quick recovery.🙋
📚Sources:
Sheen JR, Mabrouk A, Garla VV. Fracture Healing Overview. [Updated 2023 Apr 8]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK551678/
Goodship, Allen E. BVSc, PhD, MRCVS, Cunningham, James L. PhD, CEng, MI Mech E†; Kenwright, John MD††. Strain Rate and Timing of Stimulation in Mechanical Modulation of Fracture Healing. Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research 355(): p S105-S115, October 1998.
Chehade MJ, Pohl AP, Pearcy MJ, Nawana N. Clinical implications of stiffness and strength changes in fracture healing. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 1997;79:9–12. [PubMed] [Ref list]
Claes, L.E., Cunningham, J.L. Monitoring the Mechanical Properties of Healing Bone. Clin Orthop Relate Res 467, 1964–1971 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11999-009-0752-7
Windhagen H, Kolbeck S, Bail H, Schmeling A, Raschke M. Quantitative assessment of in vivo bone regeneration consolidation in distraction osteogenesis. J Orthop Res. 2000;18:912–919. [PubMed] [Ref list]
Webb J, Herling G, Gardner T, Kenwright J, Simpson AH. Manual assessment of fracture stiffness. Injury. 1996; 27:319–320. [PubMed]
Schneider E, Michel MC, Genge M, Perren SM. Loads acting on an intramedullary femoral nail. In: Bergmann G, Rohlmann A, Graichen F, eds. Implantable Telemetry in Orthopedics. Berlin, Germany: For schungsmitteilung der FU; 1990:221–227. [Ref list]