FRACTURES

General Classification of Fractures

A fracture is a full or partial Open Closed Stable Displaced
break in the normal continuity
of bone tissue. Fractures can
occur in any bone in the body.
They are usually the result of
high-impact force or stress.
They may also be a sign of Broken bone Broken bone Broken ends Broken ends of
medical conditions such as protrudes does not of bone are bone have moved
osteoporosis or cancer. through skin. puncture skin. aligned. out of alignment.

Types of Fractures
Transverse Oblique Comminuted Segmental Avulsed Spiral Greenstick

Break runs Break runs Bone is broken One bone Broken piece Break spirals One side of
in a straight diagonally into three or fractures in attached to around bone is
line across across more pieces, two places, a tendon or the bone broken, other
the bone. the bone. fragments are with “floating” ligament (commonly side is bent
present at segment separates from caused by a (only seen in
the fracture site. of bone. the rest of twisting injury). children).
bone.

Fracture Healing Hematoma External

callus
Bony
callus of
Process Internal New
blood
spongy
bone
callus
(tibrous vessels Healed
1 0–2 weeks tissue and Spongy fracture
eartilage)
2 2–3 weeks bone
trabeculae
3 3–6 weeks
Hematoma Fibrocartilaginous Bony callus Bone
4 6 weeks–2 years
formation callus formation formation remodeling

NOTES

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