Fractures and Healing - Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary-style flashcards covering fracture types, classifications, signs, and the repair process as described in the lecture notes.

Fracture

A break or crack in a bone, caused by trauma or disease; can vary in pattern and severity.

Nondisplaced fracture

Fracture in which bone fragments remain in their anatomical position.

Displaced fracture

Bone ends are out of alignment; may affect function.

Complete fracture

Fracture through the entire bone.

Incomplete fracture

Fracture that does not traverse the entire bone.

Open fracture

Bone protrudes through skin; fracture communicates with the external environment.

Closed fracture

Skin remains intact; bone is not exposed.

Transverse fracture

Fracture line across the bone, perpendicular to its axis.

Longitudinal fracture

Fracture line along the length of the bone.

Spiral fracture

Fracture line spirals around the bone due to twisting force.

Comminuted fracture

Bone broken into three or more fragments.

Segmental fracture

Two or more distinct fracture segments within the same bone.

Oblique fracture

Fracture line at an angle between transverse and longitudinal axes.

Greenstick fracture

Partial fracture common in children; bending with cracking on one side.

Avulsion fracture

Fragment pulled off by an attached tendon or ligament.

Torus (buckle) fracture

Cortical buckling with compression of trabecular bone; common in children.

Epiphyseal (physeal) fracture

Fracture through the growth plate (epiphyseal/physeal plate).

Pathological fracture

Fracture caused by weakened bone from disease (e.g., osteoporosis) with little trauma.

Compression fracture

Fracture of a vertebral body due to axial loading; vertebra is compressed.

Depressed fracture

Bone fragment driven inward, commonly seen in skull injuries.

Periosteum

Outer membrane covering bone; damaged during fracture and important for healing.

Hematoma

Blood clot at the fracture site forming early in healing.

Angiogenesis

Growth of new blood vessels to supply healing tissue.

Fibrocartilaginous callus

Early soft callus of fibrocartilage that stabilizes the fracture.

Bony callus

Hard bone callus formed by osteoblasts as healing progresses.

Remodeling

Final stage where bone reshapes and regains strength.

Immobilization

Restriction of movement to allow fracture ends to stay aligned during healing.

Compression of fragments

Bringing fracture ends together to minimize gaps and aid healing.

Osteoclasts

Bone-resorbing cells that remove debris during healing.

Osteoblasts

Bone-forming cells that lay down new bone during healing.