Ch. 37 Common Types of Fractures

Closed (complete)

bone fragments separate completely

Open (compound)

bone protrudes to outside of the body

Incomplete

bone fragments are still partially joined

Compression

consists of the crushing of cancellous bone

Transverse

parts of the bone are separated but close to each other

Comminuted

more than 1 FX line and more than 2 bone fragments that may be shattered or crushed

Stress

failure of 1 cortical surface of bone, often caused by repetitive activity

Avulsion

separation of small fragment of bone at site of attachment of a ligament or tendon

Greenstick

incomplete break in bone with intact side of cortex flexed (one side is broken and the other side bent)

Impacted

one part of FX is compressed into an adjacent part of FX