According to "Dorland’s Illustrated Medical Dictionary," broken bones fall in any of 245 different categories. That includes fractures of the skull, spine, fingers and toes. The most common fractures occur in the long bones of the body, such as those in the arms and legs. Fractures of the ribs and hips, which are seen mostly in specific populations, hold a close second. The types of breaks also usually vary by age group.
Common Fractures in Children
Children tend to expirence simple fractrures of the foreams and ankles, but another type of fracture becomes worrisome. According to "Current Emergency Diagnosis and Treatment," when a child breaks a long bone close to the end where it connects to other bones, the epiphyseal plate or growth plate may sustain damage. The Salter-Harris classification system of growth plate injuries, developed by two doctors, assesses the extent of damage of the epiphyseal fracture. Classifying the break helps predict future growth problems. In addition, sometimes the clavicle, the newborn’s breast bone, breaks during the birth process.
Common Fractures in Adults
Adults commonly fracture leg and ankle bones along with forearms. "Dorland’s Illustrated Medical Dictionary," reports the majority of fractures in the average adult population fall into these categories: simple, compound, spiral, transverse, comminuted and stress. The simple or closed fracture does not break the skin. Compound or open fractures pierce the skin. When a bone breaks in a spiral fashion its line follows that of a coil or spiral. A transverse fraction cuts diagonally across the bone. Comminuted breaks shatter the parts of bone closest to the fracture. Stress fractures occur as a result of overuse. Under repeated stress, a hair-line crack appears. Fractures are typically categorized using two terms, such as "open spiral fracture."
Common Fractures in the Elderly
Due to their propensity to fall, the older population experiences both the common fractures and a few of their own. Multiple medications affecting balance, decreased visual acuity, awkward body posture and brittle bones make the elderly a high risk population for fractures. "Dorland’s Illustrated Medical Dictionary," says compression fractures, hip fractures and Colles fractures plague them most. The compression fracture most often occurs in the vertebra of the spine. In their later years, seniors suffer from osteoporosis and degenerative joint disease. The space between the vertebra shortens, causing the bones to crush into each other when the body jolts or bangs against something hard. Similarly, osteoporotic hip bones often break on impact or fall. A Colles fracture is a break in the wrist bone in the posterior direction caused by falling on an outstretched hand that is trying to break the fall.
Common Fractures in Athletes
Athletes suffer broken bones in places where others would ordinarily not. For example, a common injury among athletes, the shoulder fracture, affects mainly football players. "Current Emergency Diagnosis and Treatment" reports the clavicle and the scapular break as being the most commonly experienced fractures from direct or indirect blows. Hands, feet, fingers and toes take the brunt of the athlete’s active lifestyle. This group also experiences the same types of injuries as the adult population.
Common Fractures in the Chronically Ill
"Current Medical Diagnosis and Treatment" states that bone diseases such as osteoporosis make bones more susceptible to breakage. Other systemic illnesses or their treatments can cause fractures, including cancer and chemotherapy. When a break is caused by an illness or its treatment, it is considered a pathological break as opposed to a traumatic break. The fractures can occur in all areas of the body.
References
- "Current Medical Diagnosis and Treatment"; Stephen J. McPhee and Maxine A. Papadakis; 2010
- "Current Emergency Diagnosis and Treatment"; Charles E. Saunders and Mary T. Ho; 1992
- "Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary"; 31st ed.; Sanders Elsevier, pub; 2007
