Fractures

Fractured means broken. Whether you have a complete or a partial fracture, you have a broken bone. A bone may be completely fractured or partially fractured in any number of ways (cross-wise, lengthwise, in the middle).

How Do Fractures Happen?

Fractures can happen in a variety of ways, but there are three common causes:

Trauma accounts for most fractures. For example, a fall , a motor vehicle accident or a tackle during a football game can all result in a fracture.

Osteoporosis also can contribute to fractures. Osteoporosis is a bone disease that results in the “thinning” of the bone. The bones become fragile and easily broken.

Overuse sometimes results in stress fractures. These are common among athletes.

Diagnosing Fractures

Usually, you will know immediately if you have broken a bone. You may hear a snap or cracking sound. The area around the fracture will be tender and swollen. A limb may be deformed, or a part of the bone may puncture through
the skin.

Doctors usually use an X-ray to verify the diagnosis. Stress fractures are more difficult to diagnose, because they may not immediately appear on an X-ray; however, there may be pain, tenderness and mild swelling.

Types of Fractures

• Closed or simple fracture. The bone is broken, but the skin is not lacerated.
• Open or compound fracture. The skin may be pierced by the bone or by a blow that breaks the skin at the time of the fracture. The bone mayor may not be visible in the wound.
• Transverse fracture. The fracture is at right angles to the long axis of the bone.
• Greenstick fracture. Fracture on one side of the bone, causing a bend on the other side of the bone.
• Comminuted fracture. A fracture that results in three or more bone fragments.