BONES 101 | ARTHRITIS | BONE CANCER | JOINT PAIN | BONE HEALTH
Bone Fractures
- Definition of Bone Fractures
- Displaced Bone Fractures
- Non-Displaced Fractures
- Closed Fracture
- Open Bone Fracture
- Other Bone Fractures
Fractures (same as broken bones) occur when the physical force exerted on the bone is greater than the bones can withstand and the bone simply breaks. Risk of fracture depends on age (children and people over 50 are at risk), and the general condition of a person as other health problems, or poor diet, can cause the bones to weaken and be more susceptible to bone fractures.
Displaced fracture occurs when the bone snaps into two or more parts. Often the ligaments are misplaced and movement is lost because the break is severe enough to detach one parts of the bones.
Non-displaced fractures occur when there is a crack and some breakage has occurred, but the bone is still in place with all its connecting ligaments and the person can still retain all their movement.
Closed fractures occur when the broken bones do not break enough to tear through the skin. In closed fractures, the risk of infection is much less as there is no space for bacteria to come in.
An open bone fracture is one in which the bones break through the skin. There is an important difference from a closed fracture because with an open fracture the bone protrudes the skin, opening a way for bacteria and infection to come into the damaged area, greatly increasing risk of infection.
- Greenstick fracture - incomplete fracture common in children where the bones are bent
- Oblique fracture - curved breakage pattern
- Comminuted fracture - multiple fragments break in the bones
- Impacted fracture - ends of the bones are driven into each other