Fractures

Fracture

break in the bone, usually caused by trauma

Reduction of a Fracture

realignment of a broken bone

Traction

using pulleys and weights to maintain alignment of a fractured bone during healing

Closed

a 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 broken and the other side is bent

Impacted

one fragment is driven into the other

Oblique

break occurs at an angle across the bone; usually one fragment slips by the other

Open

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

Pott

fracture of the distal end of the fibula with injury to the tibial joint

Spiral

fracture is in a spiral or ‘S’ shape, usually caused by twisting injuries

Transverse

a break at right angles to the long axis of a bone