Different Types of Bone Fractures

Oblique Fracture

In this type of fracture, the fissure runs diagonal to the axis of your bone. They are basically slanted fractures caused by an intense force applied at an oblique angle.

Stress Fracture

It is also called hairline fracture. You develop this type of fracture in joints that you use too often. It is an overuse injure and is more common in athletes, ballet dancers, runners, and basketball players.

Compound Fracture

It is opposite to simple fracture and is also known as an open fracture. There will be buxation of the bone and it will pierce through the epidermis. So it is more likely to develop an infection in this type of a fracture.

Non-Displaced Fracture

It is opposite to the displaced fracture. It means your bone snaps into two pieces but stays aligned.

Greenstick Fracture

More common in children, it is partial fracture with one side of the bone unharmed. There will be torsion on the other side of the bone though. This type of fracture usually heals quickly

Avulsion Fracture

This closed fracture occurs when you break a bone due to a forceful contraction of a muscle. It is more common in athletes and people who start their workout without spending time in warm-ups.

Transverse Fracture

This fracture is perpendicular to the axis of the bone. You get a transverse fracture when something applies serious force at a right angle to the bone.

Impacted Fracture

This type of closed fracture occurs when there is too much pressure on two extremities of the bone. The bone splits into two fragments-the fragments will jam into each other.

Compression Fracture

You develop a compression fracture when at least two bones are forced against one another. You usually get it in the bones of the spine usually due to a collapse of the anterior portion of the vertebra or advanced osteoporosis.

Pathological Fracture

You develop this fracture when you have an underlying health condition, such as osteoporosis. You can also get pathological fractures if cancer cells spread to the bones.

Complete and Incomplete Fractures

You have a complete fracture if the bone is fragmented completely. It is an incomplete fracture when the two pieces of the bone partially avulse from each other-there will be some connection left between the both.

Spiral Fracture

You have a spiral fracture when the fracture line twists around the bone. You get this type of fracture because of severe twisting force applied to the bone.

Linear Fracture

You have this type of fracture when the break is parallel to the long axis of the bone.

Fatigue Fracture

Your bone becomes traumatized because of mundane stressors which cause weakness over a period of time.

Simple Fracture

Also called closed fractures, they occur when your bone suffers breakage but does not pierce through the epidermis.

Comminuted Fracture

Among all different types of fractures, comminuted fracture is a serious one. The bone will be broken into several fragments. This is a highly complicated injury and usually heals quite slowly.

Displaced Fracture

Among the many different types of fractures, this type occurs when your bone breaks into two parts in a way that the bone loses its alignment.