HBS // Types of Bone Fractures

clavicle fracture

a common sports injury, this fracture is also the most common injury to a child during birth.

spiral fracture

a fracture in which the bone has been twisted apart

comminuted fracture

a fracture in which the bone is broken into pieces

tibia/fibula fractures

fractures such as these are often caused by direct strikes to the leg, often in car accidents.

depression fracture

normally a skull fracture where a cranial bone is pushed inward

oblique fracture

occurs at an angle across the bone

transverse fracture

occurs straight across the bone

compression fracture

occurs when the bone is pressed together (compressed) on itself

greenstick fracture

one in which the bone is bent and only partially broken

open vs closed fracture

open = break in the skin closed = no break in the skin

radius fracture

the fracture shown is commonly caused by falls onto outstretched hands. These are the most common fractures in pediatrics.

skull fracture

the fracture shown resulted from a blow to the head. This type of fracture can sometimes be associated with underlying damage to a major organ.

femoral shaft fracture

the fracture shown was the result of an accidental gunshot (pieces of lead can be seen in the X-ray), but motor vehicle accidents are more commonly to blame for this type of injury

ulna and radius fractures

the fractures shown are usually caused by a fall or a direct strike to the arm.

patella fracture

this common injury can be caused by a fall or an impact, such as the knees hitting the dashboard in a car accident.

supracondylar humerus fracture

this fracture was caused by a fall onto a fully extended arm that hyper-extended the elbow joint (bent the joint the wrong way).

phalangeal fracture

this type of break is most often treated with splints, but surgery may be required if a break is severe or does not heal properly.

hip dislocation

this type of dislocation is most commonly caused by high-energy impacts in car accidents, but can also be caused by a fall from a significant height.

metatarsal fracture

this type of injury usually results from dropping something on the foot.

dislocated shoulder

this very common sports injury is treated by sedating the patient and manipulating the joint back into place.

fracture of lumbar spine

this very painful injury is most often caused by a hard fall to the buttocks.