PCL 8 - Fracture

Fracture???

- broken bone

How???

- Trauma

e.g. a fall, a motor vehicle accident, a tackle during a football game

- Osteoporosis

bone disease that results in the "thinning" of the bone. The bones become fragile and easily broken

- Overuse

sometimes results in hairline fractures, especially in athletes

Categories

1) Displaced vs Non-displaced

- displaced: bone snaps into 2 or more parts

- non-displaced: bone cracks either part or all the way throug

h, does not move, maintains proper alignment

2) Closed vs Open

- closed: NO puncture or open wound in skin

- open / compound:

bone breaks through skin

it may then recede bak into wound and not be visible

risk of deep bone infection

3) Complete vs Incomplete

Incomplete Fracture???

- bone is only cracked or partially broken

1) Hairline Fracture?

- incomplete fracture, like a crack that does not break all the way through the bone

- usually result of a relatively minor injury

2) Greenstick Fracture?

- incomplete fracture

- similar to the break of a young tree branch

- only one side of the bone breaks causing the bone to bend

Both hairline and greenstick fractures are usually treated by immobilization with a cast to allow it to mend.

Complete Fracture???

When the bone is broken into pieces

1) Simple Fracture?

- complete fracture

- bone is broken into two fragments

a) transverse (which means straight across the bone)

b) oblique (which means at an angle - diagonal break)

c) spiral (the break spirals around the bone; common in a twisting injury)

2) Comminuted Fracture?

- complete fracture

- bone is broken into several fragments (multifragmentary fracture)

- usually a result of a severe injury.

Both simple and comminuted fractures are usually treated with immobilization with a cast or sometimes with pins, screws, and plates.

Other types

Compression fracture

• - the bone is crushed, causing the broken bone to be wider or flatter in appearance.