Fracture Types

Question 1

avulsion

Answer 1

complete severing of body part (typically a toe or finger)

Question 2

colles

Answer 2

fracture of distal end of the lateral forearm bone (radius); produces a “dinner fork” deformity

Question 3

comminuted

Answer 3

boned is splintered into several small pieces between the main parts

Question 4

complete

Answer 4

bone is broken into two or more pieces

Question 5

compound (open)

Answer 5

broken ends of the bone protrude through the skin

Question 6

compression

Answer 6

bone is squashed (may occur in a vertebra during a fall)

Question 7

depressed

Answer 7

broken part of the bone forms a concavity (as in skull fracture)

Question 8

displaced

Answer 8

fracture bone parts are out of anatomic alignment

Question 9

epiphyseal

Answer 9

epiphysis is separated from the diaphysis at the epiphyseal plate

Question 10

greenstick

Answer 10

partial fracture; one side of bone breaks - the other side is bent

Question 11

hairline

Answer 11

fine black in which sections of bone remain aligned (common in skull)

Question 12

impacted

Answer 12

one fragment of a bone is firmly driven into the other

Question 13

incomplete

Answer 13

partial fracture extends only partway across the bone

Question 14

linear

Answer 14

fracture is parallel to the long axis of the bone

Question 15

oblique

Answer 15

diagonal fracture is at an angle

Question 16

pathologic

Answer 16

weakening of bone cause by disease process (e.g.; cancer)

Question 17

pott

Answer 17

fracture is at distal ends of the tibia and fibula

Question 18

simple (closed)

Answer 18

bone does not break through skin

Question 19

spiral

Answer 19

thin fractures due to repeated, stressful impact such as running (these fractures often are difficult to see on x-rays, and a bone scan may be necessary to accurately identify their presence)

Question 20

transverse

Answer 20

fracture is at hight angles to the long axis of the bone