Bone fractures are common injuries. They occur when a sizable external force causes the bone to break. Falls, moving collisions and forceful blows are traumatic causes of bone fractures. Diseases that weaken the bones and overuse can also lead to bone fractures. Bone fracture types describe characteristics of the break. As such, a broken bone may fall into more than one bone fracture type.
Open and Closed Fractures
An important characteristic of bone fractures is whether they are open or closed. An open fracture is one in which the broken bone has penetrated through the skin. Compound fracture is another term for an open fracture. A closed fracture does not penetrate the skin.
Simple and Comminuted Fractures
A simple fracture is a single break in the bone. A comminuted fracture involves at least two breaks leaving three or more pieces of bone. This type of fracture is common with high-impact trauma such as a motor vehicle accident or a fall from a significant height.
Transverse, Oblique and Longitudinal Fractures
A break that runs straight across a bone is a transverse fracture. An oblique fracture is an angled break of the bone. A longitudinal break runs along the long axis of the bone rather than across it.
Spiral Fracture
A fracture line that twists around the bone is a spiral fracture. As you might expect, this type of injury occurs when a twisting force is applied to the bone. These are typically high-force injuries.
Impacted Fracture
An impacted fracture is one wherein one bone fragment is forcibly jammed into another. These high-force injuries require surgical repair.
Compression Fracture
A compression fracture occurs when a bone collapses. This type of fracture is usually limited to the spine. Osteoporosis is a significant risk factor for compression fractures of the spine.
Torus Fracture
A torus fracture is more of a bend than a break. An external force bends and deforms the bone, but it does not fracture. Think of a plastic straw: it will bend but does not break. Much the same thing happens with a torus fracture, also known as a buckle fracture. These fractures occur in only in children because their bones are softer and more pliable than those of an adult are.
Greenstick Fracture
Greenstick fractures are childhood injuries wherein the bone breaks on one side but remains attached on the other. This type of fracture is so named because the break is similar to what happens if you try to break a fresh twig.
Stress Fracture
A stress fracture is a bone crack that occurs because of repeated stress. Professional and amateur athletes are prone to stress fractures, especially in the feet and lower legs. Stress fractures, also known as hairline fractures, are not through-and-though bone breaks.
Pathological Fracture
A pathological fracture is one that occurs because of weakness in the bone caused by a disease or abnormal condition. Osteoporosis is a common cause of pathological fractures. Cancers that spread to the bones also predispose them to pathological fractures.
