Can broken/fractured bones cause flu-like illness?

Question

Two friends of mine who took an anatomy course together have both told me that leaving a broken or fractured bone untreated can cause you to get flu-like illness and common virus-type illnesses. They said its because the bone can cause a hemmorage (sp?). Is this true?

The friends told me the illness could result from necrosis (sp?) or a hemmorage. Yeah or no?

Answer 1

The flu like illness is a new one to me. The only reason you might be at more risk of a viral infection is if you are in bad health when you break the bone or as a result of breaking the bone ie your ability to look after yourself decreases and because you are run down your immune system isnt working at 100%. Broken bones in some cases can cause hemmorhages (bleeding) if they are complete fractures, malaligned and in close proximity to a major blood vessel or organ, eg a bad rib fracture can cause a punctured lung and bleeding. The other way is if it is an open fracure or a compound fracture where the bone breaks through the skin and you get bleeding (this can also lead to infection because the bacteria can get under the skin). Necrosis occurs if the broken bone interrupts blood flow to either the rest of the bone or another part of the body so the cells die and go necrotic. The only way that could make you ill is if it got infected as well or if the necrosis was left for too long and the toxins seeped into your blood stream and gave you "blood poisoning" or septicaemia which isnt viral, it tends to be a bacterial infection.
Hope that helps

Answer 2

Cold weather can mess with your bones, so it may be likely to
happen only if your immune system is down.
This is possible but not likely.