A break of a bone of any type is considered a bone fracture. The average person has two bone fractures in their life. The most common cause for bone fractures is traumatic injury; however, osteoporosis or bone tumors also cause bones to break. The risk of a bone fracture increases as a person ages. Signs of a bone fracture include pain, swelling, deformity, weakness and inability to bear weight. Healing time of a broken bone depends on the type of fracture, age and how the injury occurred. There are more than 90 classifications of bone fractures; however, some are more common than others.
Compression
Bone fragments are forcibly driven into together in compression fractures. The fractures are also called telescoped or impacted fractures. These bone breaks are commonly caused by disease processes such as osteoporosis or repetitive motion such as long distance running. The most common osteoporotic fracture is seen in the spine's lower vertebrae.
Complete Fracture vs. Comminuted Fractures
The bone is cracked and broken straight through in a complete fracture. The break is often a straight line. Comminuted fractures have many small pieces of broken bone and breakage points. The fragments are unaligned. Healing takes longer with comminuted fractures.
Incomplete
The bone is not broken entirely in an incomplete fracture. Also known as a greenstick fracture, the bone may be splintered on one side with a bend commonly seen on the other side of the bone. Small splinters or fissures may be seen on the bone, yet the bone remains intact and in proper position. The incomplete bone fracture is most commonly seen in children.
Compound
A compound fracture is seen when bone extrudes from the skin. The bone may puncture the skin and then retreat back under the skin's surface. The fracture is also known as an open fracture. Risk of infection is greater due to higher risk of bacteria entering the body through the broken skin.
References
- Complete Guide to Symptoms, Illness & Surgery; H. Winter Griffith, Stephen Moore, Kenneth Yoder; 2006.
- Medical-surgical nursing: an integrated approach; Lois White, Gena Duncan; 2002.
- Cedars Sinai: Spinal Compression Fracture Treatment: Vertebroplasty/Kyphoplasty
