Health Topics for Bones, Joints and Muscles

Bone and Muscle Cancer

Department of Orthopaedics

Sports Related Injuries

Rheumatology Clinic

Pediatrics Rheumatology

UI Spine Center

Fracture types

Fractures are broken bones. Fractures cause pain and make it difficult or impossible to use the part of the body that is injured. The treatment of a fracture depends upon the type and location of the fracture, if there are other injuries, and how serious those injuries are.

There are two types of fractures, closed and open. With a closed fracture, there is no open cut in the skin over the site. With an open fracture, bone fragments may be sticking out of the skin or a wound may be exposing the bone. An open fracture has an increased risk for infection.

Specific types of fractures are described by how bad the break is. If the break goes across the bone, breaking the bone into two or more pieces, it is called a complete fracture. With an incomplete fracture, the bone is not broken all the way across. In a greenstick fracture, one side of the bone is broken and the other side is bent, just like a green stick from a tree would break if bent. Greenstick fractures occur only in growing children. When a bone is broken in three or more pieces it is called a comminuted fracture.

Other types of fractures include impacted fractures where the pieces of bone have been driven into each other. These fractures often occur in the wrist and hip. Impacted fractures of the spine are called compression fractures. When a piece of the broken bone is out of alignment, it is called a displaced fracture.

Occasionally, a fracture may occur when there has not been a fall or known injury. These fractures are called pathological fractures. Pathological fractures occur in bones that have been weakened by a disease. Stress fractures are very tiny fractures of the bone. They may be very difficult to see on x-ray at first. They occur from overuse, such as when an athlete does not properly prepare for the activity or suddenly increases the activity.

Fractures are described in many ways using many different terms from those used here. These descriptions help the provider know what treatment will work best for the fracture.

Last Reviewed 2005

Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.

HIL File BONE3428.RF2 VRS# 7615 Data Version 7.0 Copyright 1999, 2003 McKesson Health Solutions LLC. All rights reserved.