Chapter 4: FRACTURES

Ruqayya Salam

Fractures

A broken bone.

Named to describe the type of damage to the bone. Bone involved, part of the bone, and the

description of the break.

Abbreviated as FX or Fx.

Colles’ Fracture

Common type of wrist fracture.

Also called a distal radius fracture.

Occurs when the area of the radius near the wrist breaks.

First described by an anatomist, Abraham Colles.

Colles’ Fracture

Usually caused when someone falls and lands on their hands.

This can cause immediate pain, bruising, swelling, and the wrist will hang in a bent way.

An ice pack can be applied to the wrist and elevated until the Doctor is ready to examine it.

Colles’ Fracture

The wrist can be protected with a splint to allow for normal swelling.

A cast can also be made to help with the healing of the bone if it is in a good position.

Colles’ Fracture

However, if the bone cannot be corrected in the cast, surgery may be required.

Metal pins, plates and screws, and an external fixator might be necessary to hold the bones into place.

Compound Fracture

The skin has been broken through to the fracture.

Also called an open fracture.

To be classified as an open fracture, the outside air and debris must be able to get to the fracture site without a barrier of skin or soft tissue.

Compound Fracture

Typically caused by high-energy injuries, such as car crashes, falls or sports injuries.

Because of the break in the skin, debris and infection can travel to the fracture location.

Compound Fracture

Compound fractures require immediate surgery.

They usually take longer to heal because of the extent of the injury to the bone and surrounding tissues.

Comminuted Fracture

The bone is shattered, splintered, or crushed into small pieces or fragments.

At least 3 separate pieces of the bone must be present in order for it to be classified as a comminuted fracture.

Sometimes known as multi-fragmentary fractures.

Comminuted Fracture

Can occur anywhere along the length of the bone.

Common in elderly people or in people with weakened bone conditions.

Can also be the result of a tremendous force such as a fall or car accident.

Comminuted Fracture

The break will cause swelling and the patient cannot bear any weight on the broken bone.

It may be necessary to pin the fracture with surgery in order to knit the pieces back together.

Comminuted Fracture

Sometimes, however, there can be complications such as infection, in which the pieces of the bone fail to join together.

The patient needs to set appointments with an orthopedic doctor to make sure that the bone is healing appropriately.