Fracture healing

Question 1

First stage?

Answer 1

Hematoma stage
Immediately after fracture
A hematoma forms at the fracture site, which forms a clot and the frame for healing
Causes inflammation-redness, swelling

Question 2

Second stage?

Answer 2

Granulation tissue formation
Starts within a week
Platelets and fibroblasts (which forms connective tissue) recruited to the area
New blood vessels develop which is crucial to fracture healing

Question 3

Third stage?

Answer 3

Soft callus forms (soft bone) and undergoes bone formation
At the end of this phase usually 6 weeks, there is hard calcified callus of bone

Question 4

Fourth stage?

Answer 4

Bone remodelling stage
Starts around 6 weeks after injury
Continues for months to years after fracture
The hard callus undergoes repeated remodelling to regain normal bone structure