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Fractured bones, also known as broken bones, are not unusual. In fact, they are one of the most common orthopedic problems. Nearly seven million fractured bones are brought to medical attention in the United States every year. The average American citizen can expect to have two broken bones in their lifetime.

The Types of Fractures

There are many different types of fractures. Their names describe the severity and the physical characteristics of the fracture. The various types of fractures are:

Hairline fractures:

Hairline fractures are fractures in which there is a thin crack in the bone.

Complete fractures:

Complete fractures are fractures in which the bone has broken into two pieces entirely.

Greenstick fractures:

Greenstick fractures are fractures in which the bone is bent and cracked. These fractures are named greenstick fractures because they resemble what would happen if you tried to break a green stick. Greenstick fractures occur more often in children than in adults because children’s bones are softer, making them more likely to bend than to break.

Single fractures:

Single fractures are fractures in which there is a break in only one place.

Comminuted fractures:

Comminuted fractures are fractures in which there is a break in more than one place or the bone has been crushed.

Bowing fractures:

Bowing fractures are fractures in which the bone bends but does not break. Bowing fractures can only happen in children. This is because children’s bones are less rigid, making them more susceptible to bends than to breaks.

Open fractures:

Open fractures are fractures in which the end of the broken bone pierces through the skin. These are also known as compound fractures. Open fractures generally occur only with high-energy injuries, such as car accidents, falls, or, rarely, sports injuries. This type of injury requires immediate medical care, as there is a high risk of infection.

Transverse fractures:

Transverse fractures are fractures in which the break is straight across the bone.

Oblique fractures:

Oblique fractures are fractures in which the break is slanted across the bone.

Spiral fractures:

Spiral fractures are fractures in which the break winds around the bone.

Longitudinal fractures:

Longitudinal fractures are fractures in which the break runs along the shaft of the bone.

Avulsion fractures:

Avulsion fractures are fractures in which a piece of bone breaks off from the main bone. This usually occurs when the tendon that attaches muscle to the bone rips away a part of the broken bone.

Compression fractures:

Compression fractures are fractures in which the bone collapses. Compression fractures usually only affect the spongy bone in the spine.

Complicated fractures:

Complicated fractures are fractures in which the break causes injury to the surrounding structures, such as blood vessels, nerves, and muscles.

Fracture-dislocations:

Fracture-dislocations are fractures in which the bones that make up a joint break and the joint has also been dislocated.

Impacted fractures:

Impacted fractures are not common. Generally when a bone breaks, the two halves separate from one another. Rarely, one of the broken parts of bone is driven into the other. This is called an impacted fracture.

Fractures vs. Broken Bones

Fractured bones are the same as broken bones; the words mean the same thing. Even though the term ‘broken bones’ is more common, ‘fractured bones’ is the term that most doctors use to describe the condition.

Treatment

Before beginning treatment, a doctor will perform an x-ray to diagnosis the injury as a fracture as well as determine the exact type of fracture and subsequently the best course of treatment.

Then, the doctor will align the pieces of the bone properly so that the body’s natural healing process can begin. During this healing process, the bones need to be held in place. This can be done through casts, steel plates and screws, internal steel rods (for longer bones), and external devices that consist of steel pins connected to a steel beam.

These immobilization techniques will need to be left on the body for anywhere between two and eight weeks, depending on the location and severity of the bone fracture.

Seeking Legal Advice?

Experience matters. With nearly four decades of legal experience, the law firm of Goren, Goren & Harris is well equipped to handle your personal injury.  If you or someone you love has suffered with a broken bone from a car crash, a fall or some other type of careless behavior by someone else, you may be entitled to monetary compensation. Contact us today for a free consultation. We want to help.