Bone Fractures

There are fourteen ways that you can break and fracture a bone. Some are very simple breaks while others are very complex and actually break through the skin. The following are all the different fractures and breaks.


Non-displaced: bone ends retains normal position. Another words, the bone cracks but it still remains in its place.

Displaced: bone ends are out of normal alignment. 

Complete: bone is broken all the way through

Incomplete: Bone is not broken all the way through

Linear: the fracture is parallel to the long axis of the bone

Transverse: The fracture is perpendicular to the long axis of the bone

Compound (open)- bone ends penetrate skin

Simple (closed): bone ends do not penetrate the skin

Comminuted: bone fragments into three or more pieces; common in elderly

Spiral: ragged break when bone is excessively twisted; common sports injury

Depressed: broken bone portion pressed inward; typical skull fracture

Compression: bone is crushed; common in porous bones

Epiphyseal: epipysis seperates from diaphysis along epipyseal line; occurs where cartilage cells are dying

Greenstick: incomplete fracture where one side of the bone breaks and the other side bends; common in children