bone health

simple fracture

skin is not compromised

compound fracture

skin has been compromised (broken)

comminuted fracture

bone is shattered, broken into multiple pieces

compression fracture

bone is crushed, typically from osteoporosis

spiral fracture

bone is twisted

epiphyseal fracture

epiphysis is separated from diaphysis, hard to see, typically through a growth plate

depressed fracture

bone/portion of bone is pressed inward

greenstick fracture

“buckle”; most common in kids; bone doesn’t break all the way through, very fibrous

stress fracture

overuse injury; bone is not in 2 separate pieces

fracture repair

healing takes a few months, or more and occurs in a series of steps

fracture healing step 1

fracture hematoma forms; collection of blood at fracture site

fracture healing step 2

a fibrocartilaginous (soft) callus forms

fracture healing step 3

a hard (bony) callus forms; new bone tissue

fracture healing step 4

bone is remodeled; changing shape of the bone

bone change in aging

loses ability to produce organic matrix (mostly collagen)

bone change in aging

loses calcium and other minerals (bone mineral density)

osteopenia

low bone marrow density; breaks down bone quicker than it’s produced

osteoporosis

bone tissue deteriorates faster than it is produced

osteoporosis

compact bone becomes thinner, spongy bone has fewer trabeculae

osteoporosis

causes bone to become porous, light, and weak; bones are more susceptible to fracture

osteoporosis

common in elderly, especially post-menopausal women