FRACTURESChapter 4

Medical TerminologyBy : Carmelita Chavez

What is a Fracture?

* A fracture is a broken bone that depending the physical pressure or stress that was exerted on the bone it can be a large or small fracture.

• Fractures are common –two fractures per person is the average that a person has in their life time.

• Fractures occur due to the factors of age and style of life.

• Symptoms of a fracture are: swelling, deformity, pain, and loss of function.

• Treatment for fracture is to get scan for an x-ray, surgery, and, rehabilitation.

Types of Fractures

* There are several types of fractures such as closed, colles, comminuted, compound, compression, fracture, greenstick, impacted, oblique, pathologic, spiral, stress, and transverse.

The three fractures that I’m going to describe in detail which are colles, comminuted, and transverse fracture.

Colles’ fracture

Colles’ Fractures

Is a wrist fracture. Is a transverse fracture of radius Is a common fracture in elders, children,

and women. Elders and children can fall easily and fall

in their wrist putting stress in that particular area causing it to break.

Colles’ fractures can occur in women due to postmenopausal

Colles’ Fracture Symptoms, Aid, and Treatment Symptoms of colles’ fracture are: wrist pain,

swelling of wrist, deformity of wrist, unable to do activities with the hand.

What to do when a colles’ fracture happens?

* Rest injured arm in a elevated position on a pillowed or a soft surface.

* Put ice on wrist to reduce inflammation Treatment *Get an x-ray to indicate possible surgery and

rehabilitation. Prevent falling and hurting same wrist and follow a well balance diet.

Comminuted Fracture

Comminuted Fracture

“Fracture in which bone is shattered, splintered, or crushed into many small pieces”

Is a multi-fracture in a bone causing to brake in many parts in the same region.

At least three broken pieces in the same region of the bone should be present to be a comminuted fracture.

A comminuted fracture is one of the most painful fractures and one of the fractures that take longer to heal,

Comminuted Fracture

Is a fracture that occurs in elderly people or people with weak bones.

People with cancer are prominent to have this kind of fracture due to weak bones.

Symptoms where fractured happens are: swelling, warm, and cant handle weight.

Complications of comminuted fracture can include compartment syndrome and necrosis when bone fails to join together.

Transverse Fracture

Transverse Fracture

“ Complete fracture that is straight across the bone at right angle to the long axis of the bone”

Is a fracture where a bone is broken in a perpendicular manner into two pieces.

This fracture is common in people that play karate or runners.

Treatment to put bone together might require a cast, metal pins, or screws.

Complication of transverse fracture is nerve damage.

Transverse Fracture Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVougiCEgH8

Bibliography

www.Wikipedia.com www.wisegeek.com www.answers.com www.youtube.com