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Bone Fracture: Types, Fracture Repair...
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Related terms:
asphyxia
back injury
dysbarism
birth injury
burn
dislocation
drowning
esophageal perforation
foreign body
Injury or Poisoning
bone fracture
bone frac·ture [ bohn frak-cher ]
Subclass of:
Wounds and Injuries
Also called:
Broken bone
Definitions related to fracture:
  • A break in a bone.
    Harvard Dictionary of Health Terms
    Harvard Medical Publishing, 2011
  • A traumatic injury to the bone in which the continuity of the bone is broken.
    NCI
    U.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
  • Localized disruption of bone or tooth structure resulting in partial or complete discontinuity. (INHAND)
    CDISC Terminology
    Clinical Data Interchange Standards Consortium (CDISC), 2021
  • A fracture is a break in a bone. Fractures are usually caused by injuries. Since they can sometimes be serious, it's important to get medical care right away if you think you have a fracture. There are different ways to describe fractures. For example, there are different types of fractures based on: Whether the bone is partially or completely broken.; Whether the bone breaks through the skin; if it does, it's called an open (or compound) fracture. If not, it's a closed fracture.; The direction or shape of the break, for example if it's in a line across the bone or if it has some kind of pattern.; The cause of the break. For example, a stress fracture is a small break in a bone that is often caused by overuse.; Which bone is broken, for example facial fractures include nose and jaw fractures. Fractures commonly happen because of car accidents, falls, or sports injuries. Overuse and repetitive motions can also cause fractures. Low bone density and osteoporosis are conditions which cause weakening of your bones. Having one of these conditions makes you much more likely to break a bone. The symptoms of a fracture can vary, depending on which bone you broke. But they may include: Intense pain; Deformity, for example a limb that looks out of place; Swelling, bruising, or tenderness around the injury; Trouble moving the injured part. If you think that you may have broken a bone, get medical care right away. To find out if you have a fracture, your health provider will do a physical exam and ask about your injury. They will also likely order an x-ray or other imaging test to see if your bone is broken. The most common treatment for a fracture is for you to wear a cast or a splint. This will keep your bone from moving while it heals. How long you need to wear it will depend on the type of fracture and which bone is affected. But it's often for several weeks. Your provider will let you when you can get it off. In some cases, you may need surgery to put in plates, pins, or screws to keep the bone in place. There are steps you can take to lower your risk of fractures: Keeping your bones strong by: Getting enough calcium and vitamin D in your diet; Getting regular physical activity, including weight bearing exercises such as walking, tennis, and dancing; Getting treatment for low bone density or osteoporosis (if needed).; Wearing protective equipment when you do sports; Preventing falls by: Getting rid of any tripping hazards in your home; Being careful when walking on wet or icy surfaces; Choosing the right footwear. .
    MedlinePlus
    U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2025
  • (bone fracture) A partial or complete breakage of the continuity of a bone.
    Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO)
    The Human Phenotype Ontology Project, 2025
  • (bone fracture) Breaks or rupture in bones or cartilages.
    CRISP Thesaurus
    National Institutes of Health, 2006
  • (bone fracture(s)) A traumatic or pathological injury to the bone in which the continuity of the bone is broken.
    U.S. FDA Glossary
    U.S. Food & Drug Administration, 2021
  • A finding of traumatic injury to the bone in which the continuity of the bone is broken.
    Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events
    U.S. National Institutes of Health, 2021
  • A fracture is a break in a bone. Most fractures result from a single, significant force applied to normal bone. A fracture is a break in a bone. Most fractures result from a single, significant force applied to normal bone.
    Merck Manuals
    Merck & Co., Inc., 2025
  • Fracture, in pathology, a break in a bone caused by stress. Certain normal and pathological conditions may predispose bones to fracture. Children have relatively weak bones because of incomplete calcification, and older adults, especially women past menopause, develop osteoporosis, a weakening of...
    Encyclopedia Britannica
    Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc., 2025
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This content should not be used in place of medically-reviewed decision support reference material or professional medical advice. Some terms may have alternate or updated definitions not reflected in this set. The definitions on this page should not be considered complete or up to date.

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