Why does it take a hundred days to heal a broken bone

Perhaps everyone has heard the saying that it takes a hundred days to heal a broken bone. If people accidentally hurt themselves while doing something, they may suffer from fractures, sprained ankles, etc. In the face of these situations, we need to take some time to adjust our bodies. People usually take a hundred days to recuperate. So why is it a hundred days? Let's take a detailed look at why it takes a hundred days to recuperate after a broken bone.

Fracture healing is a continuous process. Generally speaking, it can be divided into three stages. The first stage is called the hematoma organizing stage. Within 6-8 hours after the fracture, the hematoma begins to form blood clots, capillaries proliferate, various fiber cells invade, the hematoma becomes organized, and the granulation tissue turns into fibrous connective tissue, which initially connects the fracture ends together. This period is completed about 2-3 weeks after the fracture.

The second stage is called the initial callus formation stage. The fibrous connective tissue at the fracture ends ossifies through the proliferation, degeneration, and calcification of chondrocytes. This is endochondral ossification, and this period generally takes 4-8 weeks. The third stage is called the callus remodeling stage. The original callus is transformed, osteoblasts proliferate, new trabeculae gradually increase, and gradually arrange into regular and dense trabeculae, so that the fracture ends form a bony connection. This period takes 8-12 weeks. It usually takes about three months from fracture to bone connection. Therefore, there is some truth in the saying that it takes a hundred days to heal a broken bone.

However, the fracture healing process is affected by many factors, such as age, physical health, fracture site, fracture type, degree of soft tissue injury, infection and treatment method. For example, a child's femoral fracture will basically heal in about a month, but an adult's fracture often takes three months to heal. Fractures heal faster in areas with good blood circulation, while fractures heal slower in areas with poor blood circulation. Poor fracture alignment, severe soft tissue injury, infection at the fracture site, loose fixation, and premature activity can all affect the healing speed of the fracture. For example, fractures of the metacarpals, phalanges, joints, and children's fractures can cause joint stiffness, functional impairment, and even disability due to delayed activity. On the contrary, even though some fractures are healed, forcing them to move will not only fail to promote the healing of the fractures, but will cause delayed healing of the fractures or even nonunion. Therefore, in order to make the fracture heal as soon as possible and restore good function, patients with fractures should correctly understand the saying that it takes 100 days to heal a broken bone, follow the doctor's guidance, and carry out reasonable treatment and functional exercises to achieve good results.