A "broken bone" refers to a bone fracture, or a break in the continuity of the bone. Bone fractures often occur from impacts like car accidents, motorcycle accidents and slips and falls.
Broken bones can be painful, debilitating and even life-threatening. Make sure you seek proper medical treatment if you suspect you may have broken a bone.
There are many types of fractures and most of them are very serious injuries. Although broken bones heal, the process must often be accompanied by proper medical treatment to help ensure function after healing.
Incomplete Fractures
The bone is cracked or partially broken. Examples of incomplete fractures include hairline and Greenstick fractures. These breaks will be treated with immobilization.
Complete Fractures
With a complete fracture, the bone is broken into pieces. If the bone is broken in two, the fracture is considered simple, while if the bone is broken into several pieces, it is considered comminuted.
Simple Fractures: The bone is broken into two pieces. Simple fractures are further described by the shape of the break. Transverse fractures run across the bone, perpendicular to the bone's axis. Oblique fractures run across the bone at an angle. Spiral fractures might look similar to oblique fractures from certain angles but occur when the bone is twisted apart, leaving a corkscrew-like fracture line.
Comminuted Fractures: The bone is broken into several fragments. Treatment often includes the insertion of screws and plates.
Compound Fracture
A compound, or open fracture, occurs when the broken bone fragement pierces the skin.
Intra-articular Fractures
When a bone is broken within a joint, it can be an especially serious injury. The injury will almost always cause damage to the cartilage of the joint. With the joint's moving parts, the injured person can be left with permanent continuing symptoms and pain, even after the injury is fully healed.