Med Term Fractures

closed

simple fracture with no open wound

colles

Fracture of the distal end of the radius with backward displacement of the hand

comminuted

Fracture in which the bone is splintered or crushed

compression

Fracture caused by force from both ends, as to a vertebra

greenstick

one side of the bone is fractured and the other side is bent

impacted

one fragment is driven into the other

oblique

break occurs at an angle across the bone

open

fracture is associated with an open wound, or broken bone protrudes through the skin

spiral

fracture in a spiral or S shape

transverse

a break at right angles to the long axis