Identify the Types of Broken Bones

Identify the Types of Broken Bones
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A medical professional should evaluate all types of broken bones. People commonly say the bone is broken, but physicians refer to this as a fracture. Fractures happen suddenly or happen gradually over time. Pain is a reliable indicator of a bone break. Breaks can be complicated, can result in nerve damage, damage to vital organs and can cause trouble later. Fractures could become infected and be life threatening. Some fractures like hip fractures in the elderly are associated with increased risk of early death. Serious and complicated breaks may limit social activities and work life and result in depression.

Diagnosing the Fracture

When a physician is trying to diagnose your broken bone, he or she must proceed along two lines of thought. How was the bone broken and in which way. Many causes may present themselves and many kinds of fractures exist. For instance, a bone may break due to osteoporosis and could be a complete or partial fracture with a single site or multiple locations. Fractures could be a small crack or a complete break and puncture the skin. Some breaks need not be treated while others need aggressive treatment such as surgery, and may become infected or could end your life.

How Did This Happen

The physician’s first question will probably be, “How did this happen?” You want to tell them the cause, if you know, and when it happened. Many fractures occur because of trauma such as a car accident but other times just a muscle spasm could break a bone. Sometimes bones break due to fragility as when you have osteoporosis. Other breaksare pathological as when you have a disease such as cancer. Intrauterine fractures occur to a fetus inside the mother’s womb. A trophic break comes from a nutritional disturbance and an overuse/stress fracture results from cumulative trauma on normal bone, like running and jumping on hard surfaces.

Forearm Simple Displaced Fracture

Imaging the Break

Once the cause or suspected cause is known, the physician will examine the site of the pain and trauma and will likely order imaging tests like X-ray (radiograph), CT scan (computed tomography), MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) or a bone scan. Additional tests such as blood, urine, or joint fluid may be necessary. An X-ray though, will give a clear picture visible to you and the doctor of the nature and pattern of the fracture and will help determine the treatment or repair.

Nature of the Fracture

The nature of the fracture will be either closed/simple or open/compound. A simple fracture does not pierce through the skin. A compound fracture means a bone has broken through the skin and could be visible to the eye. The types of broken bones depend on the pattern or geometry of the fracture and the degree of misalignment. A simple fracture may be displaced, which means it is not aligned, or non-displaced. In the latter case, the bone maintains its placement but the crack extends partially or all the way through.

A compound fracture is displaced or misaligned. The pattern or geometry indicates whether the bone has fractured horizontally or cross-wise, vertically or lengthwise and angularly**.** Additionally, the bone may be in pieces or splinters or be bent on the opposite side.

Fracture Patterns

The transverse fracture is across, as in breaking the bone in two like you would break a branch. A linear fracture splits the bone lengthwise. An oblique break damages the bone in an angle, neither horizontal nor lengthwise. A spiral fracture features twisting and breaks across all geometrical planes. A greenstick fracture bends the bone on the opposite side. When the bone fragments are in pieces, it is referred to as comminuted. A compression/impacted fracture results from one or more bones being pressured from an outside force, or bone on bone. An avulsion fracture occurs when sudden muscle movement displaces a bone.

Repair and Treatment

Your doctor will determine the course of treatment. For a serious fracture, he or she will realign or reposition the bone using metal screws, nails, plates, rods, or wires, will repair torn soft tissue and then immobilize or make it impossible for you to move the affected area with a splint, cast, brace, or sling. You will be advised as to how long it may take the bone to heal. Antibiotics to prevent infection and/or medication to dampen pain and inflammation may be prescribed.

References

American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons

GE Healthcare Medcyclopaedia

Orthopedic Group Inc.