Fractures involve a break in bone and can be classified by their cause as either traumatic due to injury or pathological due to disease. The nature of fractures describes whether the broken bone is exposed (compound) or protected by skin (simple). There are many types of fractures such as compressed, epiphyseal, depressed, greenstick, fissured, comminuted, transverse, oblique, and spiral. Other skeletal conditions include scoliosis which causes an abnormal spinal curve, lordosis which involves an exaggerated lumbar curvature, and kyphosis known as a hunchback. The healing of fractures occurs in stages including hematoma formation, bone formation, and rebuilding of compact bone walls.

1. Fractures &
Skeletal Conditions

2. Fractures A break in a bone
 Can be classified by cause & nature of break:
CAUSE
 Traumatic break due to injury
 Pathological break due to disease
NATURE
 Compound broken bone exposed to the
outside by an opening in skin
 Simple broken bone not exposed & protected
by unbroken skin

3. Types of Fractures

4. Compressed
 Bone is crushed
 Common in osteoporotic bones subjected to
trauma, such as in a fall

5. Epiphyseal Fracture
 Epiphysis separates from diaphysis at the
epiphyseal plate
 Occurs when cartilage cells are dying &
calcification is occurring

6. Depressed
 Broken bone portion pressed inward
 Typical of skull fracture

7. Greenstick Fracture
 Incomplete break
 Only breaks on 1 side
 Like a twig on a tree
 More common in kids
whose bones are more
flexible

8. Fissured Fracture
 Incomplete longitudinal break

9. Comminuted Fracture
 Complete break & results in 3 or more fragments
 Common in the aged, where bones are more brittle

10. Transverse Fracture
 Complete break, horizontally

11. Oblique Fracture
 Complete break at an angle

12. Spiral Fracture
 Complete break caused by a twisting motion
 Most frequent break in athletes

13. Fracture Video Clip
http://video.about.com/orthopedics/Fractures-
1.htm

14. Other Skeletal
Conditions

15. Scoliosis
 Abnormal curve of the
spine
 May cause the head to
appear off center
 One hip or shoulder to
be higher than the
opposite side

16. Lordosis
 Exaggerated lumbar
curvature
 A.K.A. “swayback”
 Due to factors like
being overweight,
pregnancy, or muscle
conditions

17. Kyphosis
 Exaggerated curvature
of the thoracic
vertebrae
 A.K.A. “Hunchback”
 Often seen in older
adults
 Possibly due to
osteoporosis or poor
posture

18. Stages in the Healing of a Bone
Fracture
 Hematoma formation
 Torn blood vessels
hemorrhage
 A mass of clotted
blood (hematoma)
forms at the fracture
site
 Site becomes
swollen, painful, and
inflamed
Figure 6.13.1

19. Stages in the Healing of a Bone
Fracture
 Osteoblasts migrate
to the fracture and
begin reconstructing
the bone
 Osteoblasts begin
forming spongy bone
Figure 6.13.2

20. Stages in the Healing of a Bone
Fracture
 Bone formation
 New bone trabeculae
appear
 Bone formation begins
3-4 weeks after injury,
and continues until
firm 2-3 months later
Figure 6.13.3

21. Stages in the Healing of a Bone
Fracture
 Compact bone is laid
down to reconstruct
shaft walls
Figure 6.13.4