BONE FRACTURES!By Chris Oswalt

Medical Terminology

Summer 2012

Bone Fracture- fractures occur when there is a break in the continuity of the bone

Types of Bone Fractures

Spiral

Compound

Impacted

Spiral fractures are caused when the bone is twisted causing the break to move down the bone in a spiral fashion. This type of fracture usually takes longer to heal than most.

COMPOUND FRACTURE

CAUSES FOR COMPOUND FRACTURES

Also known as open fractures, compound fractures result when enough force is exerted on the bone to cause it to not only break but to also break through the skin. Most commonly caused by falls or car accidents but can result from any assortment of injuries.

IMPACTED FRACTURE

IMPACTED FRACTURECAUSES:

IMPACTED FRACTURES OCCUR WHEN ENOUGH FORCE IS EXERTED ON THE BONE IN A CERTAIN ANGLE OR DIRECTION THAT CAUSES IT TO BREAK INTO ITSELF. THIS CAN NOT ONLY BE EXTREMELY PAINFUL BUT VERY DANGEROUS AS WELL DUE TO THE BONE PARTICLES THAT BREAK APART INTO THE EXTRACELLULAR SPACE WITHIN THE BODY. WHEN THIS OCCURS HEALING OF THE EFFECTED LIMB IS SEVERELY PROLONGED.

THE MOST COMMON TREATMENT FOR A FRACTURE IS CASTING, THIS WILL ALLOW THE BONE TO HEAL ONCE BEING REPOSITIONED AND WILL IN TIME FUNCTION NORMALLY. DEPENDING ON THE SEVERITY OF THE FRACTURE SURGERY MIGHT BE REQUIRED IN WHICH PINS OR PLATES WOULD BE USED TO HOLD THE BONE TOGETHER TO AID IN THE HEALING PROCESS.

THE END