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Types of Fractures

We treat all types of fractures at Southwest Health, throughout all stages of the healing process. Some fractures may require surgery to align the bones and to promote better long term function, but most can be treated without surgery.

There are many different types and patterns of fractures and each requires a different technique and procedure to repair it. Here are a few types of bone fracture categories:

  • Displaced Fracture: bone breaks into two or more pieces and moves out of alignment.
  • Non-Displaced Fracture: the bone breaks but does not move out of alignment.
  • Closed Fracture: the skin is not broken.
  • Open Fracture: the bone has broken through the skin – this is a medical emergency and you should be seen in the emergency or urgent care department immediately.

In addition to whether the bone is displaced or non-displaced it will be given a fracture pattern name. Here are several types of fracture patterns:

  • Avulsion Fracture: when a fragment of bone is separated from the main mass.
  • Buckled Fracture: (or impacted fracture), ends are driven into each other; commonly seen in arm fractures in children.
  • Comminuted Fracture: the bone breaks into several pieces.
  • Compression or Wedge Fracture: usually involves the bones in the back (vertebrae).
  • Greenstick Fracture: an incomplete fracture in which the bone is bent; occurs most often in children.
  • Linear Fracture: the break is parallel to the bone’s long axis.
  • Oblique Fracture: the break has a curved or sloped pattern.
  • Pathologic Fracture: caused by a disease that weakens the bones.
  • Spiral Fracture: one part of the bone has been twisted at the break point.
  • Stress Fracture: a hairline crack.
  • Transverse Fracture: the broken piece of bone is at a right angle to the bone’s axis.

ADDITIONAL TOPICS

Medications: What Every Patient Should Know (a Guide to Safe and Proper Usage)

As the patient, you play a very important role in your medication therapy. As your health care providers, we want to ensure that all of our patients are provided with the proper information to use medications safely and effectively[read more]

Be Prepared

Here’s a checklist of what to bring to the hospital and how to prepare your home for your return from the hospital…[read more]

Before Surgery

Preparing yourself for surgery is more than just mental preparations. Find out about other aspects of daily life to consider prior to your upcoming surgery…[read more]

After Surgery

To find out more about what to expect after surgery click here.