Fractures & Bone Remodeling

Question 1

Simple Fracture

Answer 1

Closed Fracture
A fracture that breaks cleanly and does not penetrate the skin

Question 2

Compound Fracture

Answer 2

Open Fracture
Broken ends of the bone protrude through the soft tissue and the skin
Very serious and can cause bone infections

Question 3

Comminuted Fracture

Answer 3

Bone breaks into many fragments
Common in the elderly because the bones are much more brittle

Question 4

Compression Fracture

Answer 4

Bone is crushed
Common in porous bones (Osteoporosis)

Question 5

Depressed Fracture

Answer 5

Broken bone portion is pressed inward
Typical in skull fractures

Question 6

Impacted Fracture

Answer 6

Broken bone ends are forced into each other
Common in falls and when one attempts to break a fall

Question 7

Spiral Fracture

Answer 7

Ragged break
Occurs when excessive twisting forces are applied to a bone
Common in sports fractures

Question 8

Greenstick Fracture

Answer 8

Bone breaks incompletely
Common in children because their bones are softer and more flexible than adult bones

Question 9

Avulsion

Answer 9

Ligament pulls a bone fragment after from the bone
Normally considered a bad sprain
Found at joints

Question 10

Closed Reduction

Answer 10

The bone ends are coaxed back into their normal position by the physician’s hands

Question 11

Open Reduction

Answer 11

Surgery
The bone ends are secured using wires and pins

Question 12

What are the four major events of the repair of a bone fracture?

Answer 12

1. A Hematoma Forms
2. A Fibrocartilage Callus Forms
3. The Bony Callus Forms
4. Bone Remodeling Occurs

Question 13

How long is the healing time for a simple fracture?

Answer 13

6-8 weeks

Question 14

What determines how long the healing time for a fracture is?

Answer 14

How large the bone is and if the person is old (they have poor circulation)

Question 15

After the bone is reduced what happens?

Answer 15

It is immobilized by a cast or traction to allow the healing process to begin

Question 16

What is reduction?

Answer 16

The realignment of the broken bone ends

Question 17

A Hematoma Forms

Answer 17

Blood vessels are ruptured when the bone breaks
As a result a blood-filled swelling occurs
Bone cells deprived of nutrition die

Question 18

A Fibrocartilage Forms

Answer 18

Early event of bone repair is the growth of new capillaries into the clotted blood at the site of the damage
phagocytes dispose of the dead tissue
Connective tissue cells of various types form a mass of repair tissue
Fibrocartilage callus that contains several elements acts to “splint” the broken bone, closing the gap
- Cartilage matrix
- Bony matrix
- Collagen matrix

Question 19

The Bony Callus Forms

Answer 19

fibrocartilage callus is replaced by the bong callus because more osteoblasts and osteoclasts migrate into the site of the fracture and multiply

Question 20

Bone Remodeling Occurs

Answer 20

Over a few weeks to months, depending on the bones size and site of the break
The bony callus is remodeled in response to the mechanical stresses placed on it, so that it forms a strong, permanent “patch” at the fracture site