Buckle and stress: The different types of fracture

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Most people assume that a bone “fracture” is an injury less severe than a bone “break.” In fact, bone “breaks” and “fractures” are one and the same. The term “break” or “broken” is simply not an orthopedically accepted for describing damage to bones. Bone fractures are not limited to people with active lifestyles– even celebrities break their bones.


A bone can be fractured in several ways. Determining what kind of fracture has occurred helps set the bone for recovery. In diagnosing a fractured bone, doctors first check if the fracture is simple or compound. A simple fracture, also known as a closed fracture, is a bone fracture where the skin remains intact. Although simple fractures cause severe pain, they are sometimes mistaken for other types of injury because the broken bone remains concealed. When the broken bone penetrates the skin, it is a compound or open fracture. Open fractures put a patient at a higher risk of infection.

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Whether simple or compound, fractures are further classified into types. These are the most common:


• A greenstick fracture is an incomplete fracture. The bone is bent rather than broken off. This is most common among children as their bones are strong yet flexible. An adult would likely have more brittle bones which would snap instead of bend.


• A transverse fracture is a fracture that puts a bone at a right angle to its axis.


• A comminuted fracture is when the fractured bone fragments into several pieces. An open comminuted fracture is slightly more dangerous than other types of breaks as scattered fragments take longer to heal and, as such, are exposed to the risk of infection for a longer time.

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Bone fractures should not be taken lightly. Leaving a fractured bone untreated can result in myriad complications, including infection and paralysis.




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