What is a fracture?

Summary

A fracture is a break in the continuity of a bone. Fractures range from small partial cracks to complete
breaks and can occur in any bone.

Physical trauma, overuse, and conditions such as osteoporosis are the most common causes of
fractures. Additionally, a person’s bones typically become weaker through late adulthood. This increases
their risk of fracturing a bone.

The body can repair most fractures, but medical intervention will usually be necessary to keep the
broken bones in place. These interventions can range from external casts and splints to surgical screws
and plates.

However, a fracture may also be the result of some medical conditions that weaken the bones. These
include osteoporosis and some types of cancer. The medical term for these is a pathological fracture.

Symptoms

Symptoms of a fracture vary depending on its location, a person’s age and general health, and the
severity of the injury.

However, people with a bone fracture will typically experience some of the following:

Pain
Swelling
Bruising
discolored skin around the affected area
protrusion of the affected area at an unusual angle
inability to put weight on the injured area
inability to move the affected area
a grating sensation in the affected bone or joint
bleeding if it is an open fracture

In more severe cases, a person may experience:

dizziness
faintness or lightheadedness
nausea

Causes

 Healthy bones are extremely resilient and can withstand surprisingly powerful impacts.
However, under enough force, they may crack or break.
 Physical trauma, overuse, and health conditions that weaken the bones, such as osteoporosis,
are the leading causes of bone fractures. Other factors can also increase an individual’s risk of
sustaining fractures.
 A person’s bones will typicallyTrusted Source weaken with age, which increases the risk of them
breaking. As a person ages, the likelihood of their developing a condition that weakens the
bones is also greater.