Michael Padway & Associates Orthopedic Injury Lawyers
Serving Washington, D.C.

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A fracture is simply a break in a bone that usually occurs during a fall, blow, or traumatic injury. The direction, speed, and power of the force toward the injured area affect the type and severity of the fracture as does age, resilience, and bone type. Bones weakened by osteoporosis or tumors can be fractured with very light force. There are several types of fractures. Here is a list of some of the most common ones:

Types of Fractures

Simple Fracture: The broken bone ends line up, needs only immobilization.

Compound Fracture (open): The broken bone ends separate and break through the skin.

Simple Fracture: The bone is not exposed through the skin.

Hairline Fracture: A fine “eggshell” crack in the bone which may or may not show on an X-ray.

Greenstick Fracture: The bone splits on one side but doesn’t completely separate, like trying to break a green tree limb.

Impacted Fracture: The fractured bone ends are jammed together.

Displaced Fracture: The broken bone ends don’t line up and may even overlap.

Incomplete Fracture: is a fracture where the bone is limited to a crack (the bone is not broken into two separate parts).

Complete Fracture: is a fracture in which the bone snaps into two or more parts.

Comminuted Fracture: a severe, direct force causes several breaks, producing bone fragments. These fragments may heal very slow if the blood supply to the bone is interrupted.

Avulsion fracture: caused by strong muscle contractions that pull off sections of the bone to which muscle tendon is attached. These fractures usually occur in the shoulders and knees but can occur in the legs and heel.

Compression fracture: results from the force of one bone against another. This type of fracture occurs mostly in elderly women whose vertebral bones, weakened by osteoporosis, compress and then fracture.

Pathologic fracture: occurs in people with bones weakened by disease. Usually bone cancer or osteoporosis can result in bones that fracture spontaneously or by minor stress.

Dislocations: A dislocation is an injury in which the ends of bones are forced out of their normal positions. Usually a blow, fall, or other traumatic event causes the dislocation. Sometimes, however, rheumatoid arthritis or a joint weakened by previous dislocations can be the cause. A typical sign of a dislocation is a joint that is visibly out of place, misshapen, and difficult to move. Swelling and intense pain also accompany a dislocation. A dislocation can be diagnosed through a simple x-ray. Putting a joint back in place should only be done by a trained medical professional. A splint is usually sufficient for treatment and should otherwise be treated as a fracture.

Symptoms and Diagnosis

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The most common symptom of a fracture is pain. The pain can be severe and gets worse over time and with movement. Touching the affected area is also painful. Fractures can cause swelling, bruising, and may appear deformed. The limb may not function properly; moving an arm, standing on a leg, or gripping with the hand may all become impossible. In a compound fracture, blood may leak from the bone into surrounding tissue or out of a wound.

A typical x-ray can usually detect a fracture. Other tests, such as a computed tomography (CT) test or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), may be needed to view the damaged area more clearly.

Treatment of Fracture

A fracture heals as new bone forms between the broken sections. The goal of treatment is to keep the broken ends of the fracture near each other and to keep them properly aligned. Broken bones require at least 4 weeks to heal solidly, although in the elderly, the time period is usually longer. Once healed, the bone is usually strong and fully functional. It is important to follow certain precautions concerning your fracture in order to ensure proper healing.

Splints that only restrict motion are used in some fractures. Other fractures must be immobilized completely and can be done so with a splint, brace, cast, traction, or internal (surgical) fixation. A splint or brace is a firm object affixed to the area surrounding the bone so it cannot move. A cast is a firm material, usually plastic or plaster, wrapped around the area of the bone. Traction uses a pulley and weights to hold a limb in alignment. This method is not commonly used today. An internal fixation requires surgery to attach a metal plate or rod to the pieces of broken bone. This method is often best for hip fractures and complicated fractures.

From the standpoint of your case, the most important factor will be to assess the amount of function that you lose as the result of the fracture, and how significant the permanent disability will be. Your attorney can then help you obtain an assessment of the amount of dysfunction, and present the effect of this dysfunction on your daily life.

For more information on orthopedic fractures, visit our Injury Resources section for a list of links