What is the difference between a fracture and a broken bone. How are various types of bone injuries classified. What are the common treatment methods for bone fractures. How do medical professionals diagnose and manage different fracture types. What factors influence the healing process of bone injuries.

The Truth About Fractures and Broken Bones

Many people wonder about the distinction between a fractured arm and a broken arm. The reality is, these terms are interchangeable. A fracture refers to any break in the continuity of a bone, regardless of its severity or type. This means that whether you hear a doctor say “fracture” or “broken bone,” they’re describing the same condition.

Understanding this concept is crucial for patients and their families when dealing with bone injuries. It helps demystify medical terminology and allows for better communication with healthcare providers.

Why do medical professionals use different terms?

Medical professionals often use the term “fracture” as it’s more specific and scientifically accurate. However, “broken bone” is commonly used in everyday language and is perfectly acceptable. The choice of terminology doesn’t affect the diagnosis or treatment plan.

Types of Bone Fractures: A Comprehensive Overview

Bone fractures come in various forms, each with unique characteristics and treatment requirements. Understanding these types can help patients grasp the nature of their injury and the reasoning behind their treatment plan.

Closed vs. Open Fractures

One of the primary classifications of fractures is whether they’re closed or open:

• Closed fracture: The bone breaks without piercing the skin.
• Open fracture: The broken bone penetrates the skin, creating an open wound.

Open fractures are generally more serious due to the risk of infection and often require surgical intervention to clean the wound and realign the bone.

Displaced vs. Non-Displaced Fractures

Another important classification is based on the alignment of the broken bone pieces:

• Displaced fracture: The bone fragments have moved out of alignment.
• Non-displaced fracture: The bone has cracked or broken, but the pieces remain aligned.

Non-displaced fractures, sometimes called hairline fractures, often have a simpler treatment process compared to displaced fractures.

Common Fracture Patterns and Their Implications

Fractures can occur in various patterns, each with its own set of challenges and treatment considerations. Let’s explore some of the most frequently encountered fracture types:

Transverse Fractures

A transverse fracture occurs when the break is perpendicular to the bone’s long axis. These fractures typically result from a direct impact or force applied at a right angle to the bone.

Oblique Fractures

Oblique fractures feature a diagonal break across the bone. They often result from a combination of forces, including compression and twisting.

Comminuted Fractures

In a comminuted fracture, the bone shatters into three or more pieces. These complex fractures often require more extensive treatment, potentially including surgery.

Greenstick Fractures

Greenstick fractures are incomplete fractures where the bone bends and partially breaks. They’re more common in children due to the flexibility of their growing bones.

Diagnosing Bone Fractures: Tools and Techniques

Accurate diagnosis is crucial for effective fracture treatment. Medical professionals employ various methods to assess and classify bone injuries:

Physical Examination

A thorough physical examination is the first step in diagnosing a fracture. Doctors look for signs such as swelling, deformity, and changes in range of motion.

Imaging Techniques

Several imaging methods help visualize the fracture:

• X-rays: The most common and initial imaging test for suspected fractures.
• CT scans: Provide detailed 3D images, especially useful for complex fractures.
• MRI: Offers detailed images of soft tissues and can detect subtle fractures not visible on X-rays.

Treatment Approaches for Bone Fractures

The treatment of bone fractures varies depending on the type, location, and severity of the injury. Here are some common approaches:

Immobilization

Many fractures heal with proper immobilization. This can be achieved through:

• Casts: Rigid external supports that hold the bone in place.
• Splints: Less restrictive supports used for certain fractures or in the initial treatment phase.
• Braces: Allow some movement while providing support and protection.

Closed Reduction

In cases where bone fragments have moved out of alignment, closed reduction may be necessary. This procedure involves manipulating the bone fragments back into proper position without making an incision.

Surgical Interventions

Some fractures require surgical treatment:

• Open Reduction and Internal Fixation (ORIF): Involves surgically exposing the fracture site and using hardware like plates, screws, or rods to hold the bone in place.
• External Fixation: Uses external frames and pins to stabilize the bone from outside the body.

The Healing Process: What to Expect After a Fracture

Understanding the healing process can help patients manage their expectations and follow their treatment plan effectively:

Stages of Bone Healing

1. Inflammation: The initial response to injury, characterized by swelling and pain.
2. Soft Callus Formation: New bone begins to form around the fracture site.
3. Hard Callus Formation: The soft callus is gradually replaced by harder, more organized bone tissue.
4. Bone Remodeling: The final stage where the healed bone is reshaped and strengthened over time.

Factors Affecting Healing Time

Several factors can influence how quickly a fracture heals:

• Age: Generally, younger individuals heal faster than older adults.
• Overall Health: Conditions like diabetes or poor circulation can slow healing.
• Nutrition: Adequate intake of calcium, vitamin D, and protein supports bone healing.
• Smoking: Tobacco use can significantly impair the healing process.

Preventing Fractures: Strategies for Bone Health

While not all fractures are preventable, certain measures can reduce the risk of bone injuries:

Maintaining Bone Density

Strong bones are less likely to fracture. To maintain bone density:

• Engage in weight-bearing exercises regularly.
• Ensure adequate calcium and vitamin D intake through diet or supplements.
• Consider bone density screenings, especially for those at higher risk of osteoporosis.

Fall Prevention

Many fractures, particularly in older adults, result from falls. Implement these strategies to reduce fall risk:

• Keep living spaces well-lit and free of tripping hazards.
• Use assistive devices like handrails or walking aids when necessary.
• Engage in exercises that improve balance and coordination.

When to Seek Medical Attention for Suspected Fractures

Recognizing the signs of a potential fracture is crucial for timely treatment. Seek medical attention if you experience:

• Severe pain or swelling in a limb or joint
• Visible deformity of a limb
• Inability to bear weight or use the affected area
• Numbness or tingling in the injured area

Remember, early intervention can significantly improve outcomes and reduce complications associated with bone fractures.

Living with a Fracture: Coping Strategies and Lifestyle Adjustments

Dealing with a bone fracture often requires temporary lifestyle changes. Here are some strategies to help manage daily life during recovery:

Pain Management

Effective pain control is crucial for comfort and proper healing. Options may include:

• Over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen
• Prescription pain medications for more severe cases
• Non-pharmacological methods such as cold therapy or elevation of the affected limb

Adapting Daily Activities

Depending on the location and severity of the fracture, you may need to modify your routine:

• Use assistive devices like crutches, walkers, or wheelchairs as recommended by your healthcare provider
• Rearrange your living space to make essential items more accessible
• Consider temporary help for tasks that are difficult or unsafe to perform while healing

Maintaining Overall Health

While focusing on the fracture, it’s important not to neglect overall health:

• Follow a balanced diet rich in nutrients that support bone healing
• Stay hydrated to support overall bodily functions
• Engage in approved exercises to maintain fitness and prevent muscle atrophy

By understanding the nature of fractures, their treatment options, and how to manage recovery, patients can navigate the healing process more effectively. Remember, each fracture is unique, and it’s essential to follow the specific advice of your healthcare provider for optimal recovery.

What Is the Difference Between a Fracture and a Broken Bone? By Jesse Morse-Brady, FNP-BC

A Fracture = A Broken Bone

The quick answer to this question is that they are the same! A “fracture” refers to a “break” in the bone, which can take many forms. There are numerous different types of fractures, with various different treatments. Some bone injuries are able to heal on their own, some require casting or splinting, and some even require surgery.

Common Types of Fractures

Closed vs. Open Fractures: A “closed fracture” is one in which the bone has broken but has not penetrated the skin.  An “open fracture” involves a portion of the broken bone being exposed outside of the skin.  Open fractures are much less common than closed fractures, and often involve surgical treatment to realign the broken pieces of bone and clean the wound to reduce the risk of infection.

Displaced vs. Non-Displaced Fractures: A “displaced fracture” is one in which the bone has broken and the pieces of bone have moved in relation to one another.  This may require treatment to realign the broken pieces, based upon how much movement has occurred.  A “non-displaced fracture” is one in which the bone has broken, but the pieces have not moved.  Many people may have heard of this referred to as a “hairline fracture.”  Non-displaced fractures can often be treated by keeping the affected area immobilized with a splint or brace, but sometimes require further treatment.

Types of Fracture Treatment

Immobilization: Many fractures are able to be treated by keeping the affected bone or joint still with a brace, splint, or cast while the bone heals.

Closed Reduction: If the broken pieces of bone have moved in a way that is not conducive to healing, they can sometimes be put back into place with a “closed reduction” procedure.   This involves manipulating the broken pieces of bone back into proper alignment, and usually applying a cast to keep the fracture properly “lined up.”

Percutaneous Pinning: Some fractures cause bone pieces to move into configurations that cannot easily stay in place if they are lined up.  If this should occur, a surgeon may recommend “pinning” them back into place using surgical instruments.  A pinning procedure utilizes pins that are placed through the skin to secure the bone fragments in place. The pins are removed once the fracture has healed.

Open Reduction with Internal Fixation: For fractures in which the bone pieces have moved significantly, surgery is sometimes required.  When this occurs, an incision is made in the skin near the fracture site, and the pieces are placed back together before being “fixed” in place with screws, surgical plates, or other materials.

If You or Someone You Know Has a Fracture

Fremont Orthopaedics is here to help patients through the course of fracture care, from the time of injury until the fracture is healed.   For any additional questions or to schedule an appointment with one of our providers, call (307) 332-9720.

This document contains general guidelines and is not a substitute to your provider’s instructions or an alternative to seeking appropriate medical care or follow-up appointments. For questions or concerns, seek professional medical attention. For medical emergencies, call 911.

Bone Break vs. Fracture | Sports-health

It may come as a surprise, but a broken bone and a fractured bone are the same thing. A fracture occurs when an outside force is too great for a bone to handle. Although generally rigid, bones can weaken over time and become more susceptible to fracturing.

Fractures may occur lengthwise, crosswise, or in multiple pieces. Similarly, the underlying causes of bone breaks varies.

This page will describe different types of fractures, how they occur, and how they are treated.

advertisement

Different Types of Bone Fractures

Fractures are classified by how the bone breaks. The most common fractures are:

The most common fractures are illustrated here along the femur. Fractures may occur lengthwise, crosswise and sometimes in multiple pieces.

• Compound (open) fracture. The bone may pierce the skin at the time of the fracture.
• Transverse fracture. When the bone breaks in a horizontal line.
• Oblique fracture. When the bone has a diagonal or angled break.
• Comminuted fracture. This means the bone has been shattered into 3 or more pieces.
• Greenstick fracture. When the bone bends and cracks but does not fully break. This is commonly seen in children because their bones are softer and more flexible than adults.

A fracture may be further classified by whether or not the broken pieces of bone are aligned:

• Non-displaced fracture. When the broken parts of the bone are aligned.
• Displaced fracture. When the broken parts of the bone are not aligned.

In addition, a fracture may be labeled stable or unstable. These clinical terms refer to whether the bone pieces can be easily disturbed and moved out of place. When a fracture is labeled unstable, it means that the two pieces of bone that are broken will not be able to withstand normal weight-bearing or natural physiologic forces.

The type and severity of a fracture will influence the treatment plan.

In This Article:

• Bone Break vs. Fracture

• Signs, Symptoms, and Treatment for Bone Fractures

What Causes a Bone Fracture?

A bone fracture typically occurs for one of 3 reasons.

advertisement

A fracture can occur for more than one reason (for example, weakened bone and outside force).

Dr. Emmanuel Konstantakos is an orthopedic surgeon with MercyHealth Orthopedic Specialists, where he specializes in sports medicine, arthroscopic surgery, and general orthopedics. Dr. Konstantakos has authored numerous research articles published in academic journals.

• Share on Facebook
• Share on Pinterest
• Share on Twitter
• Subscribe to our newsletter

• Email this article

advertisement

Editor’s Top Picks

• All About Stress Fractures

• A Broken Shoulder: Scapula Fracture

• The 3 Types of Shoulder Fractures

• Broken Wrist (Distal Radius Fracture)

• Less Common Types of Wrist Fractures

• Proximal Humerus Fractures of the Shoulder

What to do if you break your arm? – useful articles from specialists

Neither adults nor children are immune from bruises, abrasions, dislocations and even fractures. The causes of injury can be excessive physical exertion, an accidental fall, a blow with a heavy object, an accident, and so on. If trouble has happened to you or your loved ones, there is a suspicion of a fracture, the first step is to determine the severity of the injury. You can’t do without the help of the medical staff. Any self-diagnosis is fraught with serious consequences.

Depending on the type of damage to the hand, there are two types of fracture:

• Open – there is a rupture of tissues, skin, there is bleeding.
• Closed – no bleeding, the skin remains intact.

When the integrity of one bone is broken, we are dealing with an isolated fracture. If there is a fracture of several bones, then we are talking about a multiple fracture.

Depending on the complexity of the injury, the absence or presence of displacement, the signs of a fracture of the hand may vary significantly. However, the presence of a fracture can be determined by specific signs.

Among its main clinical manifestations are:

• severe pain;
• hemorrhage;
• swelling, edema at the site of injury;
• crunching of bone fragments;
• deformation of the injured area;
• excessive mobility of the injured part of the arm or inability to move it;
• fever;
• pale skin;
• nausea, dizziness;
• coldness of the extremity.

If you have the above symptoms, be sure to call an ambulance or go to the nearest emergency room. An x-ray will help clarify the diagnosis. Having studied the picture, the doctor will be able to determine the nature of the injury, the presence of bone fragments, the integrity of the joint.

What should I do if I break my arm?

When an injury is accompanied by bleeding, first aid is needed on the spot. Any delay can lead to terrible results. Therefore, first of all, you should stop the bleeding, and then deal with the fracture. How to do it? Wash the wound with hydrogen peroxide, apply a gauze bandage to the damaged surface. In the presence of severe bleeding, it is imperative to apply a tourniquet (in winter for half an hour, in summer for 2 hours). Important to know: if the blood is brightly colored and flows out intensively, you are dealing with an injury to the arterial vessels. The tourniquet must be applied above the fracture. In the event that the blood is thick and dark, you have a vein injury. A tourniquet is applied below the injured area.

If there is a suspicion of a dislocation, in no case should you try to set it yourself. Such work can only be entrusted to an experienced doctor.

If you decide to transport the victim to the nearest hospital, be sure to follow the rules for transporting a broken limb. We are talking about the correct fixation of the hand, with the help of sticks, fabric, cardboard – everything that can play the role of a tire.

Don’t forget to remove bracelets and rings from your arm, because jewelry interferes with natural circulation, and after swelling of the limbs, they will have to be removed using special tools.

Never do this if someone has a broken arm:

• Do not try to return the injured limb to its normal position.
• Do not transport an injured person without securing the injured arm.
• Do not try to get painkillers to drink or ointments to be applied to the bruised area. A sedative can be given when the victim is in a state of stress, shock.
• Do not splint unless you have an idea of ​​how to do it correctly. Better call an ambulance.
• Don’t be idle! Even in the presence of a slight swelling of the tissues, an x-ray should be taken and a full consultation with a traumatologist should be obtained.

Violating such prohibitions, you run the risk of significantly worsening the condition of the victim.

And most importantly, forget about any self-treatment. Practice shows that the slightest deformation, minimal displacement entails shortening of the arm and other complications.

The subsequent treatment and recovery depend on how professionally first aid is provided for a fractured limb.

How to recognize a broken arm and what to do next

Likbez

Health

May 13, 2021

In a few weeks, the injury will be gone if you take care of yourself.

You can listen to the article. If it’s more convenient for you, turn on the podcast.

What is an arm fracture

An arm fracture is a crack or fracture in any of the three bones that make up the upper limb: the humerus, radius, or ulna.

Image: solar22/Shutterstock

This is a common injury that most often occurs when falling onto an outstretched arm. In most cases, the bone can be successfully restored with a cast or splint. But there are also more serious situations that require surgical intervention.

At the slightest suspicion of a fracture, you should immediately go to the nearest emergency room or emergency room. Don’t waste time. It is important.

How to tell if it’s a broken arm

The arm usually breaks with a characteristic click or crack. Such a soundtrack may be the first sign of a fracture. But there will definitely be others:

• Severe pain, which becomes more noticeable when moving. Because of this, a person cannot use his hand.
• Numbness of the limb.
• Restricted mobility. If you place your hand palm up, it will not be possible to turn it palm down in a normal twisting motion.
• Noticeable swelling in the area of ​​the alleged fracture. Puffiness may not occur immediately, but increase over several hours.
• Bruises, subcutaneous hemorrhages.
• Visible hand deformity. For example, it may be curved in an unnatural way.

To suspect a fracture, it is enough that one or two symptoms occur immediately after a blow or fall.

Why you need to seek help as soon as possible

Fractures heal well if treated as soon as possible. But if you decide to play for time, serious complications can develop. Including deadly ones.

• Stopping bone growth in children. In childhood, the limbs are still lengthened. This happens due to the growth zones, which are located along the edges of each bone. If the fracture has affected this particular area, the lengthening may stop. And this will lead to the fact that by adulthood one arm will become shorter than the other.
• Osteoarthritis. Fractures that affect the joint, years later, can lead to its inflammation – arthritis.
• Stiffness of movement. Incorrectly fused bone often leads to limited mobility of the hand.
• Bone infection. With an open fracture, when the bone breaks through the skin and comes out, it can be attacked by microbes that can cause infection. This is dangerous because it can lead to bone destruction and blood poisoning.
• Damage to nerves or blood vessels. If sharp fragments form on the bone during an injury (this is the so-called comminuted fracture), they can break nearby blood vessels or nerve endings. This can be seen by numbness, swelling and the appearance of hematomas. If you do not quickly see a doctor, the hand may permanently lose mobility.
• Compartmental syndrome. Due to excessive swelling, blood circulation in the arm can also stop. That is, tissues, including muscle and bone, will begin to die. Compartment syndrome usually appears 1–2 days after injury. The beginning of the process can be seen by pain and severe numbness in the affected arm. This disorder is a medical emergency and requires the immediate attention of a surgeon.

How to treat a broken arm

First, you will have an x-ray to find out what condition the bone is in.

If the fracture is confirmed, the surgeon will place a cast or splint on the affected limb. This is important to give the bones a chance to recover. To reduce pain, your doctor will suggest you an analgesic drug and muscle relaxant drugs that relieve muscle spasm.

If the swelling is very large, the arm will be covered with a temporary bandage. A plaster will be applied after a few days, when the swelling subsides.