FRACTURE
A fracture is a partial or complete break in the bone. When a fracture happens, it’s classified as
either open or closed:
Open fracture (compound fracture): The bone pokes through the skin and can be seen. Or a
deep wound exposes the bone through the skin.
Closed fracture (simple fracture). The bone is broken, but the skin is intact.
Fractures have a variety of names. Here is a list of types that may happen:
Greenstick. This is an incomplete break. A part of the bone is broken, causing the other side to
bend.
Transverse. The break is in a straight line across the bone.
Spiral. The break spirals around the bone. This is common in a twisting injury.
Oblique. The break is diagonal across the bone.
Compression. The bone is crushed. This causes the broken bone to be wider or flatter in
appearance.
Comminuted. The bone has broken into 3 or more pieces. Fragments are present at the fracture
site.
Segmental. The same bone is broken in 2 places, so there is a "floating" piece of bone.
Avulsion. The bone is broken near a tendon or ligament. A tendon or ligament pulls off a small
piece of bone.
What causes fractures?
Fractures most often happen when more force is applied to the bone than the bone can
take. Bones are weakest when they are twisted.
Bone fractures can be caused by falls, injury, or as a result of a direct hit or kick to the
body.
Overuse or repetitive motions can tire muscles and put more pressure on the bone. This
causes stress fractures. This is more common in athletes and military recruits.
Fractures can also be caused by diseases that weaken the bone. This includes
osteoporosis or cancer in the bones.
What are the symptoms of a fracture?
Symptoms may be a bit different for each person. Symptoms of a broken or fractured
bone may include:
A fracture is a partial or complete break in the bone. When a fracture happens, it’s classified as
either open or closed:
Open fracture (compound fracture): The bone pokes through the skin and can be seen. Or a
deep wound exposes the bone through the skin.
Closed fracture (simple fracture). The bone is broken, but the skin is intact.
Fractures have a variety of names. Here is a list of types that may happen:
Greenstick. This is an incomplete break. A part of the bone is broken, causing the other side to
bend.
Transverse. The break is in a straight line across the bone.
Spiral. The break spirals around the bone. This is common in a twisting injury.
Oblique. The break is diagonal across the bone.
Compression. The bone is crushed. This causes the broken bone to be wider or flatter in
appearance.
Comminuted. The bone has broken into 3 or more pieces. Fragments are present at the fracture
site.
Segmental. The same bone is broken in 2 places, so there is a "floating" piece of bone.
Avulsion. The bone is broken near a tendon or ligament. A tendon or ligament pulls off a small
piece of bone.
What causes fractures?
Fractures most often happen when more force is applied to the bone than the bone can
take. Bones are weakest when they are twisted.
Bone fractures can be caused by falls, injury, or as a result of a direct hit or kick to the
body.
Overuse or repetitive motions can tire muscles and put more pressure on the bone. This
causes stress fractures. This is more common in athletes and military recruits.
Fractures can also be caused by diseases that weaken the bone. This includes
osteoporosis or cancer in the bones.
What are the symptoms of a fracture?
Symptoms may be a bit different for each person. Symptoms of a broken or fractured
bone may include:
