What is the difference between a fracture and a broken bone. How are various types of bone injuries classified. What treatment options are available for different fractures. How do medical professionals diagnose and manage bone injuries. What are the long-term implications of fractures and breaks.

The Truth About Fractures and Broken Bones: Are They the Same?

Many people wonder about the distinction between a fractured arm and a broken arm. Is there actually a difference? The short answer is no – these terms are essentially interchangeable in medical terminology. A fracture refers to any break in the continuity of a bone, regardless of its severity or type.

Why the confusion then? It often stems from the misconception that a fracture is less severe than a break. In reality, both terms describe the same condition: a bone that has lost its structural integrity due to an applied force.

Key Points to Remember:

• A fracture and a broken bone are medically equivalent terms
• The severity of the injury is not determined by which term is used
• Medical professionals use these terms interchangeably

Understanding this equivalence is crucial for patients to properly communicate with healthcare providers and comprehend their diagnosis accurately.

Classifying Bone Injuries: Types of Fractures Explained

Bone fractures come in various forms, each with unique characteristics that influence treatment and healing processes. Recognizing these distinctions is vital for proper management and recovery.

Common Fracture Classifications:

1. Closed vs. Open Fractures
2. Displaced vs. Non-Displaced Fractures
3. Complete vs. Incomplete Fractures
4. Simple vs. Comminuted Fractures

Closed fractures occur when the bone breaks without piercing the skin, while open fractures involve bone penetration through the skin, increasing infection risk. Displaced fractures show misalignment of bone fragments, whereas non-displaced fractures maintain proper alignment despite the break.

Complete fractures involve a full break across the bone, while incomplete fractures, like greenstick fractures in children, only partially break the bone. Simple fractures have a single break line, but comminuted fractures shatter the bone into multiple pieces.

How do these classifications impact treatment?

The type of fracture significantly influences the treatment approach. Open fractures often require immediate surgical intervention to prevent infection and promote proper healing. Displaced fractures may need reduction procedures to realign the bone fragments. Comminuted fractures frequently necessitate more complex surgical interventions compared to simple fractures.

Diagnosing Bone Injuries: From Symptoms to Imaging Techniques

Accurate diagnosis of bone injuries is crucial for appropriate treatment. Healthcare providers employ various methods to identify and classify fractures.

Common Symptoms of Bone Fractures:

• Pain and swelling at the injury site
• Visible deformity or misalignment
• Difficulty moving the affected limb
• Bruising or discoloration around the injured area

While these symptoms can indicate a fracture, definitive diagnosis often requires imaging studies. X-rays are the most common initial diagnostic tool, providing clear images of bone structure and alignment. In some cases, more advanced imaging techniques may be necessary.

Advanced Imaging for Complex Fractures:

1. Computed Tomography (CT) Scans
2. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
3. Bone Scans

CT scans offer detailed 3D images, particularly useful for complex fractures or those near joints. MRIs excel at revealing soft tissue damage associated with fractures. Bone scans can detect subtle fractures that may not be visible on standard X-rays.

Treatment Approaches: From Conservative Management to Surgical Interventions

The treatment of bone fractures varies widely depending on the type, location, and severity of the injury. Healthcare providers aim to restore bone alignment, promote healing, and prevent complications.

Conservative Treatment Methods:

• Immobilization (casts, splints, braces)
• Pain management
• Physical therapy

Many fractures can heal effectively with conservative management. Immobilization prevents further injury and allows the bone to mend naturally. Pain management techniques, including medication and ice therapy, help patients cope with discomfort during the healing process.

Surgical Interventions for Complex Fractures:

1. Closed Reduction
2. Open Reduction with Internal Fixation (ORIF)
3. External Fixation

Closed reduction involves manipulating the bone fragments back into proper alignment without making an incision. ORIF procedures require surgery to realign the bones and secure them with hardware such as plates, screws, or rods. External fixation uses an external frame connected to the bone through the skin to maintain alignment during healing.

How long does it take for a fracture to heal?

Healing time varies significantly depending on factors such as the patient’s age, overall health, the bone affected, and the fracture’s severity. Generally, simple fractures in healthy adults may heal in 6-8 weeks, while more complex fractures can take several months. Children often heal faster than adults due to their more active bone metabolism.

Complications and Long-Term Implications of Bone Fractures

While most fractures heal without significant issues, complications can arise, potentially leading to long-term consequences. Understanding these risks is essential for patients and healthcare providers alike.

Potential Complications of Fractures:

• Malunion (improper healing alignment)
• Delayed union or nonunion
• Infection (especially in open fractures)
• Post-traumatic arthritis
• Nerve or blood vessel damage

Malunion occurs when a fracture heals in an improper position, potentially leading to functional limitations. Delayed union refers to slower-than-expected healing, while nonunion indicates a failure to heal completely. These complications may require additional interventions, including surgery.

Long-Term Implications of Fractures:

1. Chronic pain
2. Reduced range of motion
3. Increased risk of future fractures
4. Psychological impact (e.g., fear of re-injury)

Some patients may experience lingering effects long after the initial healing period. Chronic pain can persist, especially if complications arise during healing. Reduced range of motion may occur due to joint stiffness or muscle weakness following prolonged immobilization. Certain fractures, particularly those involving osteoporosis, may increase the risk of future bone injuries.

How can patients mitigate long-term risks?

Adhering to treatment plans, including physical therapy and follow-up appointments, is crucial for optimal recovery. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle with proper nutrition and weight-bearing exercises can help strengthen bones and reduce future fracture risk. Patients should also be aware of their bone health, particularly as they age, and discuss preventive measures with their healthcare providers.

Innovations in Fracture Care: Emerging Technologies and Treatments

The field of orthopedics continues to evolve, bringing new technologies and treatment approaches to fracture care. These innovations aim to improve healing outcomes, reduce recovery time, and enhance patient comfort.

Cutting-Edge Fracture Treatments:

• 3D-printed casts and braces
• Bone growth stimulators
• Minimally invasive surgical techniques
• Bioabsorbable implants

3D-printed casts offer improved comfort and ventilation compared to traditional plaster casts. Bone growth stimulators use low-intensity pulsed ultrasound or electromagnetic fields to promote faster healing. Minimally invasive surgical techniques reduce tissue damage and can lead to quicker recovery times.

Emerging Biological Therapies:

1. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections
2. Stem cell therapy
3. Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs)

These biological approaches aim to enhance the body’s natural healing processes. PRP injections use concentrated platelets from the patient’s own blood to stimulate healing. Stem cell therapy shows promise in promoting bone regeneration, particularly in cases of delayed union or nonunion. BMPs are proteins that play a crucial role in bone formation and repair.

How might these innovations change fracture treatment in the future?

As research progresses, these emerging technologies and treatments may become more widely available, potentially revolutionizing fracture care. They could lead to faster healing times, reduced complications, and improved functional outcomes for patients. However, long-term studies are still needed to fully understand their efficacy and safety profiles.

Preventing Fractures: Strategies for Maintaining Bone Health

While not all fractures can be prevented, there are several strategies individuals can employ to reduce their risk of bone injuries and maintain overall bone health.

Key Factors in Bone Health:

• Nutrition (calcium and vitamin D intake)
• Regular weight-bearing exercise
• Avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol consumption
• Fall prevention measures

Adequate calcium and vitamin D intake is crucial for maintaining bone density. Weight-bearing exercises, such as walking or resistance training, help stimulate bone formation. Smoking and excessive alcohol consumption can negatively impact bone health and should be avoided.

Special Considerations for At-Risk Populations:

1. Postmenopausal women
2. Older adults
3. Individuals with osteoporosis or low bone density
4. Athletes in high-impact sports

These groups may require additional preventive measures. Postmenopausal women and older adults should discuss bone density screening with their healthcare providers. Those diagnosed with osteoporosis may benefit from medication to slow bone loss. Athletes should use proper protective equipment and follow safe training practices.

How effective are these preventive strategies?

While no strategy can completely eliminate the risk of fractures, comprehensive preventive measures can significantly reduce the likelihood of bone injuries. Studies have shown that regular exercise and adequate nutrition can improve bone density and reduce fracture risk by up to 50% in some populations. Fall prevention programs have also demonstrated effectiveness in reducing fracture incidence among older adults.

By understanding the nature of fractures, their treatment options, and preventive strategies, individuals can take proactive steps to maintain bone health and reduce their risk of these potentially debilitating injuries. As medical science continues to advance, we can expect even more effective approaches to fracture prevention and treatment in the future.

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.