What are typical signs of a fracture in spina bifida?

• A. Swelling, warmth at fracture site, and low-grade fever
• B. Numbness and tingling only
• C. Severe constant pain without swelling
• D. Absence of any signs

Answer: (A)

When a fracture happens, the body’s inflammatory response causes damage and bleeding at the break, which leads to swelling and warmth around the affected area. In people with spina bifida, sensory changes can blunt the usual pain signal, so relying on objective signs like visible swelling and warmth becomes especially important. A low-grade fever can occur with the inflammatory process and, in some cases, with early infection around the fracture, making it a plausible accompanying sign. So the combination of swelling, warmth at the site, and a mild fever best signals a fracture in this context.

Numbness and tingling alone can reflect neuropathy from spina bifida rather than a fracture, so they aren’t definitive. Severe constant pain without swelling is less typical for an acute fracture, which usually presents with at least some swelling. Absence of signs would not reliably indicate that a fracture isn’t present.