When you break a bone, you have a lengthy healing process. Even though bones are tough, they are not able to heal from a broken bone in a day, a week, or even a month. It takes time and there are steps that must be taken to heal.

The bone callus is the site of the broken bone and is an important part of the healing process.

This article will show you how bone calluses form and look, and what you can do to promote healing.

You might wonder why bone calluses form.

It may be helpful to think of it as a transition, a transition that helps the fractured bone move from the first phase of healing to the next phase when the repair work begins.

An illustration of a bone callus, showing how it develops after a bone fracture.
Illustrated by Jason Hoffman

According to the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons, there are three phases of fracture healing, which we’ll look at in more detail below.

Inflammatory phase

The inflammatory phase is the beginning of the healing process. It starts when the bone is broken and lasts for several days.

Blood collects at the site of the fracture, causing inflammation and a blood clot to form.

Reparative phase

The reparative phase is the second phase of the healing process.

The callus is made of tissues and cartilage and replaces the blood clot at the site. The callus is vulnerable because it holds the fractured bone together. It is not strong enough to be used in that way.

The formation of this soft callus occurs somewhere between 2 and 6 weeks after the fracture occurs, according to a 2017 review of bone fracture healing.

The soft callus develops into a hard callus as healing continues. The hard callus is softer than regular bone.

Bone remodeling phase

Your body undergoes bone remodeling over and over again. New bone tissue is used to replace old bone tissue.

The callus goes through the bone remodeling process after a break. Special cells chip away at the old bone, and other cells 888-609- 888-609- 888-609- 888-609- 888-609- 888-609- 888-609- 888-609- 888-609- 888-609- 888-609- 888-609- 888-609- 888-609- 888-609- 888-609- 888-609- 888-609- 888-609- 888-609- 888-609- 888-609- 888-609- 888-609- 888-609- 888-609- 888-609- 888-609- 888-609- 888-609- 888-609- 888-609- 888-609- 888-609- 888-609- 888-609- 888-609- 888-609- 888-609- 888-609- 888-609- 888-609- 888-609- 888-609- 888-609- 888-609-

It’s a process that takes many months or even years, and during that time, the bone becomes compact and resumes its original shape.

A bone callus is a normal development on the road to healing. The callus becomes bone over time.

The entire healing process can take as long as a year, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS). However, the healing timeframe can vary, based on the type and severity of the fracture. And in some cases, the final phase may slowly unfold over the course of a few years.

If your doctor is concerned that a bone fracture is not healing properly, or it is healing more slowly than expected, he or she may recommend the following.

  • Swelling your fractured bone for a longer period of time.
  • trying bone stimulation
  • undergoing surgery with a bone graft or bone growth proteins

“Your doctor is responsible for aligning the bone fragments after you break a bone. It is up to you to follow your doctor’s advice. It is important to avoid activities that could slow down the healing process.”

You can help promote bone healing by following the steps.

  • Follow immobilization instructions: You could inadvertently impede the healing process if you don’t follow the instructions for keeping your broken bone immobilized. If your doctor tells you to stay off a broken leg and not put any weight on it for 6 weeks, it’s important to follow those instructions exactly. If you resume weight-bearing activities too soon on a weakened bone, it could set back your progress.
  • Eat a healthy, balanced diet: Give your body the nutrients it needs to promote healing by eating well. Think lean protein, fruit, and vegetables. Consider including foods rich in vitamin D, calcium, and protein to help with the healing process. Ask your doctor if you need a vitamin D or calcium supplement.
  • Try to stop smoking: Smoking can slow down the healing process. In fact, a 2021 review of multiple studies found that smoking is associated with fractures that don’t heal, as well as deep surgical site infections.
  • Limit or avoid alcohol: Some research suggests that alcohol creates a kind of oxidative stress that can disrupt bone healing.
  • Participate in physical therapy: Your doctor may recommend that you begin physical therapy at some point. These sessions can help you regain your strength and range of motion. Physical therapy can also help you learn how to adapt your movements and move safely so you don’t re-injure yourself or put unnecessary stress on a healing fracture.

It takes time and patience to recover from a bone injury. The development of a bone callus is an important part of the healing process. It develops at the site of the broken bone after a few weeks.

The soft tissue and the bone callus are called bones. The callus becomes bone as healing continues.

The healing process for a bone fracture can take a year, but depending on the severity and type of the injury, it can take longer.