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Fractures

 

A bone fracture is a break, rupture or crack in a bone or cartilage. Most fractures are a result of injuries from falls, sports activities, or vehicle crashes. A bone can be completely or partially fractured in many different ways. Fractures can also happen due to osteoporosis or overuse.

Here at Providence Regional, we provide the expertise to diagnose and treat fractures in our Emergency Department. Our team of qualified professionals provides comprehensive care to help patients get back to their normal activities.

Types of fractures:
• Simple: the bone is broken, but there is no external wound.

• Compound: bone is broken and there is an external wound leading down the site of fracture, or fragments of bone protrude through the skin.

• Complicated: bone is broken and has injured some internal organ, i.e., a rib piercing a lung.

• Comminuted: bone is broken and splintered into pieces.

• Green stick: bone is partially bent and partially broken.

• Stress fractures: tiny cracks in a bone that occur from overuse.

• Avulsion fractures: occurs when a ligament or tendon attached to a bone pulls away part of the bone.

Learn more about bone fractures via Medline Plus or Kids Health.