Broken bones can happen after accidents, falls or being struck by something. Broken bones are also called fractures, and can be very painful. The risk of broken bones often depends partly on a persons age. Broken bones can be common in childhood and older age. Childrens bones are still forming, plus they may fall off bikes or climbing frames for example. In older age, people can become more frail and more likely to trip and fall. Plus osteoporosis can make bones more brittle and more likely to fracture after a fall. Some types of bone fracture: There are many types of fractures, but the main categories are complete, incomplete, compound and simple. Complete and incomplete fractures refer to the way the bone breaks. In a complete fracture, the bone snaps into two or more parts; in an incomplete fracture, the bone cracks but does not break all the way through. In a compound fracture, also called an open fracture, the bone breaks through the skin. It may then recede back into the wound, so it is no longer visible through the skin. In a simple fracture, also called a closed fracture, the bone breaks but there is no open wound in the skin. Greenstick fracture: an incomplete fracture in which the bone is bent. This type of fracture occurs most often in children. Transverse fracture: a fracture at a right angle to the bones axis. Oblique fracture: a fracture in which the break is at an angle to the bone’s axis. Comminuted fracture: a fracture in which the bone fragments into several pieces. An impacted fracture is one whose ends are driven into each other. This commonly occurs with arm fractures in children and is sometimes known as a buckle fracture.
Posted on: Mon, 11 Aug 2014 18:44:30 +0000
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