A fractured bone is a bone which has had its tissue
broken. A fractured is a name of the type of the break experienced.
When a bone has been broken a doctor must first look for deformities of
the bone which may require palpation (feeling for broken bone ends) and
auscultation (listening for crepitus). There is generally local
bruising and tenderness in the effected area as well as possible skin
stretch marks, band marks, localized swelling and forming hematomas. An
X-ray is the best diagnostic method available to confirm a broken or
fractured bone.
Butterfly Fracture
This type of fracture has slight comminution at the fracture site which
looks largely like a butterfly. The fracture site has butterfly
fragments.
Closed Fracture
When there is a closed fracture there is no broken skin. The bones
which broke do not penetrate the skin (but may be seen under the skin)
and there is no contusion from external trauma.
Comminuted Bone Fracture
A comminuted fracture has more than two fragments of bone which have
broken off. It is a highly unstable type of bone fracture with many
bone fragments.
Complete Bone Fracture
This is where the bone has been completely fractured
through it's own width. This is opposite from a hairline fracture or
incomplete bone fracture where there is only a "crack" and not a
complete break.
Complex Fracture
This type of fractured bone severely damages the soft tissue which surrounds the bone.
Compound Bone Fracture
When this occurs, the bone breaks and fragments of the bone will
penetrate through the internal soft tissue of the body and break
through the skin from the inside. There is a high rise of infection if
external pathogenic factors enter into the interior of the body.
Compression Fracture
This type of bone fracture generally occurs after a fall where the
vertebral column is compressed and then under the extreme pressure
cracks or breaks. This type of bone fracture may also be referred to as
a Impact Fracture.
Double Fracture
With this type of broken bone there is multiple fractures
on the same bone or two bones which are fractured at the same time (ie
- tibula and fibula). This type of trauma generally requires internal
fixation of the fractured bones. It is also known as a Segmental
Fracture.
Fissure Fracture
This bone fracture has minimal trauma to the bone and surrounding soft
tissues. It is a incomplete fracture with no significant bone
displacement and is considered a stable fracture. In this type the
fracture the crack only extends into the outer layer of the bone but
not completely through the entire bone. It is also known as a Hairline
Fracture.
Fracture-Dislocation
This type of fracture is complicated with a dislocation of the joint proximal to the fracture site.
Fragmented Fracture
During this fracture the trauma will result in many broken bones leaving many pieces of bone within the patient.
Greenstick Fracture
The pathology of this type of fracture includes a incomplete fracture
in which only one side of the bone has been broken. The bone usually is
"bent" and only broken of the outside of the bend. It is mostly seen in
children and is considered a stable fracture due to the fact that the
whole bone has not been broken. As long as the bone is kept rigid
healing is usually quick.
Hairline Fracture
This bone fracture has minimal trauma to the bone and surrounding soft
tissues. It is a incomplete fracture with no significant bone
displacement and is considered a stable fracture. . In this type the
fracture the crack only extends into the outer layer of the bone but
not completely through the entire bone. It is also known as a Fissure
Fracture.
Incomplete Fracture
This occurs when the bone breaks but the ends do not completely
separate leaving the bone with a "crack" which does not extend the
complete width of the bone. This is opposite from a complete bone
fracture where the broken bone ends are completely severed from each
other.
Impact Fracture
This type of bone fracture generally occurs after a fall where the
vertebral column is compressed and then under the extreme pressure
cracks or breaks. This type of bone fracture may also be referred to as
a Compression Fracture.
Impacted Fracture
Type of fracture where the ends of the broken bones are wedged together.
Multiple Fractures
In this type of fractured bone there are several fracture lines on one
bone. It can also mean several fractures in one patient but on separate
bones but generally due to the same injury. Generally due to traumatic
injuries, this will be evident in a patient who has a fractured pelvis
and clavicle due to a fall or hit by a car.
Oblique Fractures
These types of fractures are one of rarest forms. They are a oblique
break in the bone which is very unstable (break at an angle). They can
be easily diagnosed as spiral fractures.
Open Bone Fracture
This type of fracture classified as when a broken bone protrudes to the
exterior of the body giving rise to soft tissue injuries of the
muscles, tendons and ligaments. There is a high risk of injection to
the internal tissues.
Segmental Fracture
With this type of broken bone there is multiple fractures on the same
bone or two bones which are fractured at the same time (ie - tibula and
fibula). A bone break in which several large pieces of bone have broken
away from the broken bone. This type of fracture easily becomes an open
fracture. It is also known as a Double Fracture.
Simple Fracture
A simple bone fracture is one of the better types of fractures as there
is only bone damage with little or no soft tissue damage and the broken
bone ends do not penetrate the skin.
Spiral Fractures
In this pattern a bone has been broken due to a twisting type motion.
It is highly unstable and may be diagnosed as a oblique fracture unless
a proper x-ray has been taken. The spiral fracture will look like a
corkscrew type which runs parallel with the axis of the broken bone
Stable Fracture
A stable fracture is a broken bone which is generally transverse,
oblique, greenstick or a hairline fracture which is somewhat secure.
Transverse Bone Fracture
In this type of fracture the bone has been broken giving rise to a
transverse break or fissure within the bone at a right angle to the
long portion of the bone.. It is most often caused by direct traumatic
injuries.
Unstable Fracture
An unstable fracture is generally a broken bone which is comminuted,
oblique or a spiral fracture requiring external or internal fixation.
References
Mosby Medical Encyclopedia
Revised Edition 1996, Penguin Books
