fractures

greenstick, transverse & spiral

Overview A fracture is a partial or complete break in the

bone Fractures occur when there is more force

applied to the bone than the bone can absorb Trauma (most common) Osteoporosis, Stress/overuse (common in athletes)

Symptoms Pain and/or swelling in the injured area Obvious deformity in the injured area Difficulty using or moving the injured area in a

normal manner Warmth, bruising, or redness in the injured area

Overview Diagnostic Tools

X-rays reveal most fractures CT scan when more detailed-image is needed

Treatment depends on nature and location of break Cast or splint

Immobilizes the injured area to allow alignment and healing Protects the injured area from motion or use

Traction Stretching the muscles and tendons around the broken bone

to allow the bone ends to align and heal Surgery

Metal rods or pins are used externally or internally to hold the bone fragments in place to allow alignment and healing

Physical therapy once bone is healed

How fractures heal Bones heal through a gradual process called

remodeling Healing time depends on the type of fracture

Tissues bleed around the fracture, forming a blood clot in the space between bone fragments

A network of strong fibers forms inside clot, holding bone fragments together

Fibers are replaced by new bone, which is weak and spongy at first--called a fracture callus

The new bone grows stronger--the fracture callus shrinks as the bone is used

3 Common Types of Fractures Greenstick Transverse Spiral

Greenstick Fracture Incomplete break

where one side of bone is broken and the other side is bent Results in a “bowing”

appearance

Greenstick Fracture Common in children due to softness of their

bones Can be difficult to diagnose

Typical symptoms associated with broken bone may be absent or minimal in greenstick fractures because bone is not displaced Often resembles soft-tissue injury, such as a sprain or a

bad bruise

X-rays reveal most greenstick fractures In children, CT scan may provide better images

due to child’s lower bone density Casting is typical treatment

Transverse Fracture Bone is completely

broken in a manner that is perpendicular to the way the bone runs Bone is separated into

2 pieces

Transverse Fracture Typically caused by blunt injury or trauma

Fall, car accident, etc. X-ray is the main diagnostic tool to assess

damage Reduction (alignment) may be very painful Casting is typical treatment

Surgery for those areas which cannot be realigned by casting

Spiral Fracture Complete break,

spiraling around the shaft of the bone Bone has been

twisted apart “corkscrew”

appearance

Spiral Fracture Common sports injury

Rarely occurs when person is not in motion Bones are weakest when twisted

Often associated with child abuse Red flag for healthcare workers

Reduction (alignment) may be very painful Difficult to diagnose with single x-ray film due to

helical nature of the fracture Often confused with oblique fractures

Multiple x-rays or CT scan needed for accurate diagnosis

Treated with casting Greater likelihood of surgery due to nature of the

injury