What is a fracture scab?

The bone scab is a scab that forms during the fracture healing process and gradually turns into bone to join the fracture ends together. The fracture healing process consists of three stages: the first stage is hematoma mechanization, in which a hematoma forms at the site of the fracture due to rupture and bleeding from the soft tissue and the fracture itself, which gradually becomes radicalized and evolves into harder fibrous connective tissue within 2-3 weeks after the injury. The second stage is the formation of the primary bone scab, which takes about 3-4 weeks after the injury to harden and form the primary bone scab, which gradually evolves into new bone, usually 12-24 weeks. After 1-2 years of evolution, and with the continuous strengthening of the scab with limb activity and weight-bearing, the scab outside the force line will be gradually removed and will finally return to the normal bone structure.