What process involves the healing of fractures and typically takes weeks up to 6 months?

Callus formation is the correct process involved in the healing of fractures, taking weeks to up to 6 months. When a bone fractures, the body initiates a healing process that begins with inflammation and leads to the formation of a soft callus. This soft callus is made up of collagen and cartilage, which serves as a temporary bridge across the fracture site. Over time, as the healing progresses, this soft callus hardens into a stronger, bony callus through a process called ossification.

The overall healing process of a fracture typically consists of four stages: hematoma formation, callus formation, bone remodeling, and eventually restoration of bone strength. The callus formation plays a crucial role during the early stages, which is why it is significant that this occurs over weeks to several months.

This is distinct from bone remodeling, which is a later stage of healing where the new bone is shaped and strengthened to return to its original structure over a more extended period. Bone reduction involves the clinical procedure where the fracture is realigned, while subluxation refers to a partial dislocation of a joint, which is unrelated to the specific healing of fractures. Therefore, callus formation is central to the healing process of fractures, making it the