Broken bones, also known as fractures, can occur due to a range of accidents such as car crashes, workplace mishaps, slips and falls, sports-related incidents, or acts of violence. These injuries can span from minor fractures necessitating straightforward treatment to severe fractures demanding surgical intervention, extended rehabilitation, and even resulting in permanent disabilities.
Here are some common types of bone fractures:
- Stable Fracture: In this type, the bone ends remain aligned, with minimal displacement and intact soft tissues.
- Transverse Fracture: A break at a right angle to the bone's long axis, often resulting from a direct blow or twisting force.
- Oblique Fracture: Characterized by an angled break across the bone, occurring when force is applied at an angle.
- Comminuted Fracture: The bone shatters into three or more fragments, often due to high-energy impacts, such as in a car accident or a fall from a significant height.
- Spiral Fracture: Twisting force creates a helical pattern along the bone, often in sports-related injuries.
- Greenstick Fracture: Common in children, bones bend and partially break, resembling a green twig.
- Compression Fracture: Common in vertebrae, linked to osteoporosis or trauma, bone is crushed or collapsed.
- Avulsion Fracture: The bone is pulled away by a tendon or ligament, commonly at attachment sites.
- Stress Fracture: Tiny cracks from frequent stress or excessive use, often in weight-bearing bones.
- Open (Compound) Fracture: Bone fragments penetrate the skin, leading to an external wound, that requires urgent medical attention.
