2. Did you know… Many people do not realize that a fracture is actually a broken bone. Fracture: An injury to a bone that causes it to break. Fractures happen because an area of bone is not able to support the energy placed on it. The two critical factors in determining why a fracture occurs are the energy of the event, and the strength of the bone.
3. The Energy & Strength… The energy can be acute, high-energy -for example a car crash, or chronic, low-energy –such as a stress fracture. The strength can either be normal or decreased –for example Osteoporosis, or A very simple problem.
4. Greenstick Fracture Greenstick fracture: A fracture in which one side of a bone is broken while the other is bent. Most common cause: A fall. Most commonly seen in children. Can take as little as 3 weeks to heal. Treating a greenstick fracture requires reducing the fracture, typically by pulling the bone apart slightly and then pushing it into place to straighten it out.
5. Pathologic Fracture Pathologic fracture: a fracture in which a bone breaks in an area that is weakened by another disease process. Causes of weakened bone include tumors, infection, and certain inherited bone disorders. There are many diseases and conditions that can lead to a pathologic fracture.
6. Spiral Fracture Spiral fracture: A fracture in which a bone has been twisted apart. Spiral fracture is also called a torsion fracture. It can be difficult to treat a spiral fracture because the break is helical. It involves months in a cast and sometimes surgery, depending on the location of the break, the general health of the individual, and the specific circumstances involved in a fracture. The spiral fracture is a famous warning sign of abuse, especially in children, because the twisting motion necessary could be caused by something such as a parent/guardian grabbing and twisting the arm or leg of a child.
