2. Fracture types
Overall, there are many fracture types. They are
categorized by non-displaced, open, and closed
Some fracture types include:
Closed fracture(simple fracture) – no open skin wound
Colles’ fracture- wrist fracture
Comminuted fracture- bone is shattered, splintered, or
crushed into small pieces or fragments
Compound fracture (open fracture)- skin has been
broken through to the fracture
Pathologic- caused by diseased or weakened bones
3. (Types of Bone Fractures: Buckle Fracture, Stress Fracture,
Comminuted Fracture, and More,n.d.).
• This picture shows the
difference between a simple
facture (on the left) and a
compound facture (on the
right)
• As you can see, the
compound breaks through
the skin. The simple
facture or closed facture
does not show open skin
• The compound fracture is
more at risk for an
infection
4. Spiral Fracture
The fracture line spirals around the shaft of the
bone caused by a twisting injury or rotating
force.
This type is slower to heal than other fractures.
Spiral fractures can be displaced or stable,
depending on how much force causes the
fracture.
(Tibia (Shinbone) Shaft Fractures-OrthoInfo –
AAOS,n.d.)
5. Oblique facture
• This fracture is at an angle to the bone and is typically unstable.
• If an oblique fracture is initially stable or minimally displaced, over
time it can become more out of place.
• In the picture, you can see the line of the bone going on an angle.
That is why it is called an oblique fracture.
• Not parallel
• Synonyms: slanting, diagonal, or sloping
(Types of Bone Fractures: Buckle Fracture, Stress Fracture,
Comminuted Fracture, and More, n.d.).
6. Pathologic facture
Break down of the word:
*Combining form- patho/o = disease
*Suffixes- -logy = study
-ic = pertaining to
This facture is caused by diseased or
weakened bones
Includes osteoporosis, cancer, infection, or bone cyst
(Joint Essential. (n.d.).
7. --- This picture displays how
the femur bone is fractured
from osteoporosis.
---- Osteoporosis is a
condition where the bones
become weak
Joint Essential,n.d.).
• The bottom right picture displays
an X-ray picture of a pathologic
fracture
(Tibia (Shinbone) Shaft Fractures
OrthoInfo – AAOS, n.d.).
8. References
Joint Essential. (n.d.). Retrieved June 20, 2016, from
http://www.jointessential.com/12-types-of-bone-diseases-and-disorders-a-
guide-for-patients/
Tibia (Shinbone) Shaft Fractures-OrthoInfo - AAOS. (n.d.). Retrieved June
20, 2016, from http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00522
Types of Bone Fractures: Buckle Fracture, Stress Fracture, Comminuted
Fracture, and More. (n.d.). Retrieved June 20, 2016, from
http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/understanding-fractures-basic-
information
