#Bone fracture vs break skin#

Open Fracture : A fracture in which the bone breaks through the skin and can be seen outside the leg.

Many of the types of fractures we’ll talk about later may also be described by one of the following terms:

$bone fracture vs break$

There are several types of bone fractures, and each type can have slight variations. Let’s take a closer look at the different types of bone fractures and how they occur. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), the most common causes of bone fractures are trauma, osteoporosis, and overuse. May is National Osteoporosis Month, so we thought we’d explore one of the common side effects of the disease: bone fractures. Also consider making changes in your home to protect against falls, and go about your day-to-day life with a mindset to guard against possible accidents (like wearing your seatbelt in the car).Satellite Office: 1 Compass Way, Suite 202 You can prevent fractures by knowing the risks of your hobbies or sports activities and taking steps to prevent injuries. However, the course of treatment will depend on how bad the break is, what type of fracture it is, and your overall health. Whether your provider says you have a broken bone or a fracture, the treatment for the injury will be the same. SummaryĪ broken bone and a fracture are the same the words are just used interchangeably. If you’re at a higher risk for a broken bone because of your health-for example, because you have weak bones from osteoporosis-you may need to take proactive steps around your home to reduce the risk of a fall.įor example, you may need to be extra careful when taking the stairs, remove throw rugs from your bedroom to prevent tripping, and sand or salt your driveway in icy weather to lower your chances of slipping. It's important to also follow league rules.įor example, putting on shin guards when you play soccer, wearing a helmet when you are biking or horseback riding, and staying on a pike bath can help reduce your risk of bone injuries. If you take part in sports or other activities that put you at risk for broken bones, the best way to prevent fractures is to make sure you’re using the right protective gear and technique. Traction to pull the bones back into placeįixation with pins or wires (internal or external) The treatment for a broken bone depends on what bone is injured, how bad the injury is, and what your bone health and overall health are like.Ĭasts, including those made of fiberglass or plaster You won’t be able to tell if you’ve broken a bone or got a sprained ankle without having an X-ray. You can also stretch or tear the ligaments and tissue holding the three bones together that's called a sprain.īoth types of injuries can be very painful. For example, your ankle is made of three bones-tibia, fibula, and talus. You can break a bone, but you cannot break a ligament. Sprains are injuries to the thick bands of cartilage that attach bone to bone-often at a joint-called ligaments. These images help your provider decide what kind of treatment you need.Ī sprain is very different than a fracture. X-rays are usually used to look at the bone and see what type of break has happened. While they might be able to tell the bone is broken by looking at it, asking you about what happened when you got hurt, and asking you about your symptoms, they’ll usually need to do imaging tests to get a closer look. These depend on where the bone is broken, how severe the break is, and whether the bones are lined up.ĭisplaced and Stable (Undisplaced) fracturesĪ fractured bone can be diagnosed by a healthcare provider. There are many kinds of fractures that can develop. Medical conditions (osteoporosis, tumors in the bone, etc.) Overuse which may occur with running, horseback riding, dancing, etc. Sports (especially contact sports like football)Īctivities or hobbies where you could fall or experience an impact Bones can also become weak as a result of medical conditions like osteoporosis.Ĭommon causes of fractured bones include:

$bone fracture vs break$ $bone fracture vs break$

Sometimes minor cracks in bones are referred to as 'fractures' while complete breaks or shatterings are considered a 'break.' However, the terms can be used interchangeably.īroken bones happen because the bone has been put under strain or trauma, which may happen during an accident or sports injury. Bones may also shatter into several pieces.

#Bone fracture vs break crack#

Through trauma or disease, a bone can lose integrity and develop a hairline crack that’s barely visible on an X-ray, or it could break through from one side to the other. The terms are used to refer to any loss of continuity of the bone. The words 'bone fracture' and 'broken bone' refer to the same type of injury.

$bone fracture vs break$