What is a fracture?
A fracture is a partial or complete break in the bone.
When a fracture occurs, it is classified as either open
or closed:
»open fracture (Also called compound fracture.) - the
bone exits and is visible through the skin, or a deep
wound that exposes the bone through the skin.
»closed fracture (Also called simple fracture.) - the
bone is broken, but the skin is intact.
What causes a fracture?
Fractures occur when there is more force applied
to the bone than the bone can absorb. Bones are
weakest when they are twisted. Breaks in bones
can occur from falls, trauma, or as a result of a
direct blow or kick to the body.
What are the symptoms of a fracture?
The following are the most common symptoms of a fracture.
However, each individual may experience symptoms differently.
Symptoms may include:
•pain in the injured area
•swelling in the injured area
•obvious deformity in the injured area
•difficulty using the injured area in a normal manner
•warmth, bruising, or redness in the injured area
TYPES OF FRACTURES
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COMMINUTED
SPIRAL
DEPRESSED
COMPRESSED
EPIPHYSEAL
GREENSTICK
OBLIQUE
greenstick
- incomplete fracture. The
broken bone is not completely
separated.
transverse
- the break is in a straight
line across the bone
spiral
- the break spirals around
the bone; common in a
twisting injury
oblique
- diagonal break across the
bone
compression
- the bone is crushed, causing the
broken bone to be wider or flatter in
appearance.
comminuted
- the break is in three or more
pieces and fragments are
present at the fracture site.
epiphyseal
- epiphysis separates from the
diaphysis along the epiphyseal
plate.
depressed
-Broken bone portion is
pressed inward
Typical of skull fracture
Name and describe each type of fracture pictured here.
BONE REPAIR
• READ PAGES 191-193
• SUMMARIZE EACH STAGE OF SIMPLE
FRACTURE REPAIR
• INCLUDE A DIAGRAM FOR EACH
PHASE
• IN WHAT CASES MIGHT A PHYSICIAN
BE NEEDED TO FACILITATE THESE
STAGES?
BONE REMODELING