Broken bone

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

X-ray

Fracture types (1)

Fracture, forearm - X-ray

External fixation device

Fractures across a growth plate

Internal fixation devices

Fracture types (2)

$Bone fracture repair - series$

Bone fracture repair - series

Broken bone

Definition:

If more pressure is put on a bone than it can stand, it will split or break. A break of any size is called a fracture. If the broken bone punctures the skin, it is called an open fracture (compound fracture).

A stress fracture is a hairline crack in the bone that develops because of repeated or prolonged forces against the bone.

Alternative Names:

Bone - broken; Fracture; Stress fracture

Considerations:

It is hard to tell a dislocated bone from a broken bone. However, both are emergency situations, and the basic first aid steps are the same.

Causes:

The following are common causes of broken bones:

Fall from a height
Motor vehicle accidents
Direct blow
Child abuse
Repetitive forces, such as those caused by running, can cause stress fractures of the foot, ankle, tibia, or hip

References:

Browner, BD. Skeletal Trauma: Basic Science, Management, and Reconstruction. 3^rd Ed. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders; 2003.

Review Date: 6/10/2005
Reviewed By: A.D.A.M. editorial.

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