Bone health and Bone Markings

General classifications of fractures

Simple fracture: Bone breaks, but does not break skin

Compound fracture: Bone breaks and pierces skin

Types of fractures

1. Comminuted

2. Compression

3. Spiral

4. Epiphyseal

5. Depressed

6. Greenstick

7. Stress fracture

Comminuted fracture

Bone broken into small fragments

Compression fracture

Bone is crushed (osteoporosis)

Spiral fracture

Caused by excessive twisting

Epiphyseal fracture

Epiphysis separates from the diaphysis along the epiphyseal plate

Greenstick fracture

Bone dosen’t break completely

Stress fracture

Thin fractures due to repeated, stressful impact, such as running

Bone repair

1. A fraction hematoma forms

2. A fibrocartilaginous (soft) callus forms

3. A hard (bony) callus forms

4. The bone is remodeled

Changes in bones that occur during aging

Loses ability to produce organic matrix (mainly collagen)

Losses calcium and other minerals (bone mineral density)

Osteopenia: Insufficient ossification

Osteoporosis

Osteopenia can result in a decrease in bone mass called osteoporosis

• Bone tissue deteriorates at faster rate than it’s produced

• Compact bone becomes thinner, spongy bone has fewer trabeculae

• Causes bone to come porous, light, and weak

• Bones are then more susceptible to fracture

• Compression fractures of the vertebrae are very common

• Common in elderly, especially post-menopausal women

• Treatment: Includes: Calcium and vitamin D supplementation, exercise, and hormone replacement

Difference between osteopenia and osteoporosis

Osteopenia: refers to the initial loss of bone mass and bone mineral density that occurs during aging as bone calcium/minerals and reduces it’s production of organic matrix (primarily collagen)

Osteoporosis: A more severe decrease in bone mass that can result from osteopenia, occurring when bone tissue deteriorates at a faster rathe than it’s produced

Positive modifiable factors

• Weight-bearing exercise & mechanical stress

• Calcium and Vitamin D intake

• Hormone replacement therapy

Negative modifiable factors

• Inadequate nutrition

• Repetitive stress & heavy lifting

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Negative non modifiable factors

• Advanced aging

• Biological sex & post menopausal hormonal status

• Susceptibility to structural fractures