Traumatic injuries
Accidents can occur at the least predictable times, in the forms of either a false movement (sprain), a direct blow (contusion) or a cut (laceration).
Depending on the severity of the accident, some people get away with a bruise (ecchymosis), but many will have to consult for a more critical injury to the bone (fracture, periostitis), muscle (tear), tendon (tear, tendinitis), ligament (tear), anatomical cushion (bursitis, herniated disc, meniscal tear), nerve (axonotmesis, neurotmesis) or brain (concussion, traumatic brain injury).
The body's reaction to damaged living tissue will be to carry out a three-stage repair: the inflammatory phase to remove dead cells and create a natural protective barrier over the bleeding wound; the regeneration phase to grow new, fresh cells; and the maturation phase to restore the full functionality to these new cells.
The key takeaway is that this repair process is automated. Whether new cells will regenerate, and if so, how quickly, is largely predetermined by the nature of the damaged tissue. For example, a muscle has a relatively rapid regenerative capacity, a bone a slower one, while a ligament is simply incapable of regeneration. Furthermore, certain diseases, such as osteoporosis, can impair the rate of repair.
If the prognosis suggests that regeneration will be difficult or impossible, surgery may be recommended, either to reattach the tissue ends with sutures (repair, reconstruction, tenodesis, neurorrhaphy) or with a plate and screw system (open reduction internal fixation or ORIF), or to replace the damaged tissue with healthy tissue (graft). If regeneration should occur but slowly, as in the case of a simple bone fracture, it will likely instead be immobilized with a boot, cast, or splint.
The primary goal of the surgery or immobilization is to ensure that a minimum of reconnection develops between the tissue ends by new cells. Initially, the reconnection is fragile and can be damaged by even the slightest physical stress. Over time, the reconnection will mature and become more resilient.
One of the main goals of physiotherapy is to guide you through the healing process by showing you the progression of movements allowed at each key stage. Another goal is to teach you how to properly use walking aids, such as crutches.