Bone+Fractures

=Bone Fractures=

Classification of Bone Fractures
[|Bone fractures], or breaks in bones, are classified according to key details of the fracture. The positioning of bone ends following the fracture, the completeness of the break, the direction of the bone compared to the long axis of the bone, and whether or not the bone breaks through the skin determine the type of fracture that occurred.

Types of Bone Fractures[[image:completebreak.jpg align="right" caption="A compound fracture. (Image courtesy of flickr.com and toribear5)"]]
A trained professional will classify a bone fracture accor ding to the criteria priorly discussed. The following terms aid in making the classification of a bone fracture:
 * Nondisplaced**- the ends of bones remain in their normal positioning.
 * Displaced**- bone ends do not remain in their normal positioning.
 * Complete**- the break in the bone is absolute; the break is all the way through the bone.
 * Incomplete**- the break in the bone is not all the way through.
 * Linear**- the fracture is parallel, or comparable, to the long axis of the bone.
 * Transverse**- the fracture is perpendicular, or opposite, to the long axis of the bone.
 * Compound**- the bone ends break through the skin.
 * Simple**- the broken bone ends do not break through the skin.

Common Fractures
There are various commonly seen fractures. These common fractures include comminuted, spiral, depressed, compression, epiphyseal, and greenstick.
 * Comminuted**- a type of bone fracture where the bone is broken into three or more pieces. This type of fracture is commonly seen in the elderly due to their fragile bones.
 * Spiral**- this fracture appears ragged because rough twisting causes it. This fracture is found commonly in sports injury cases and child abuse cases.
 * Depressed**- the fractures piece of the bone is pushed inward. Depressed fractures usually occur in the skull, such as when a person is banged on the head with a bat.
 * Epiphyseal**- occurs when the epiphysis breaks away from the diaphysis. This break occurs along the epiphyseal line when the cartilage cells become weak and die.
 * [|Greenstic]k**- A greenstick fracture is an incomplete break and where one side of the bone bends. A greenstick fracture occurs in children because children’s bones are more flexible. A greenstick fracture is named after young green twigs and the twigs flexibility, much like a child’s bone.



1. [|Hematoma] Formation
The torn blood vessels bleed. Then scores of clotted blood, also known as hematoma, form at the site of the fracture. The fracture site inflames and becomes painful.

2. [|Fibrocartilaginous] [|Callus] Formation
A fibrocartilaginous callus forms osteoblasts and fibroblasts move to the fracture site and begin working to reconstruct the bone. The fibroblasts are very important because they produce collagen fibers that connect the broken bone ends. Osteoblasts form spongy bone and produce cartilaginous matrix; the cartilaginous matrix calcifies later.

3. Bony Callus Formation
First, new trabeculae begin to form in the fibrocartilaginous callus. Then the fibrocartilaginous callus transforms into a hard bony callus. This stage occurs about three to four weeks after the break and continues until the firm union forms two to three months later.

4. Bone Remodeling
Any excess material on the bone exterior or medullary cavity is cleared away to make way for the next step. Then, in the process of reconstructing shaft walls, compact bone is laid down.

Bones heal naturally on their own. The complete healing process of bone fractures usually lasts six to eight weeks, sometimes more. The person afflicted with a broken bone should rest and get adequate nutrition to assist in the healing process. Broken bones will usually be set and then put into a plaster cast in order to heal the bone correctly. Children’s bones tend to heal faster than older adults do, most likely because bones deteriorate with age. After the bone is healed, the cast will be removed and the person can live as he or she normally would.

A boy in the picture is in the healing process of his bone fracture. (image courtesy of flickFibrocartilaginr.com and Zarsosa)