What are the 3 classifications of fractures?
In this article we look at the three primary types of fractures: open, closed, and displaced fractures.
Table of Contents
What is the classification of bone fracture?
Your provider will classify your fracture as either open or closed. If you have an open fracture, your bone breaks through your skin. Open fractures are sometimes referred to as compound fractures. Open fractures usually take longer to heal and have an increased risk of infections and other complications.

What are the 8 classifications of fractures?
Different types of bone fractures can be open, closed, stable, displaced, partial, or complete.
- Transverse Fracture. Transverse fractures are breaks that are in a straight line across the bone.
- Spiral Fracture.
- Greenstick Fracture.
- Stress Fracture.
- Compression Fracture.
- Oblique Fracture.
- Impacted Fracture.
- Segmental Fracture.
What are the 6 major classifications of fractures?
Some of the most common bone fracture types include:

- Transverse fracture. A transverse fracture occurs when a bone breaks at a 90-degree angle to the long axis of the bone.
- Oblique fracture.
- Comminuted fracture.
- Greenstick fracture.
- Stress fracture.
- Pathologic fracture.
What are the 5 types of fractures?
Types of Fractures
- Stable fracture. The broken ends of the bone line up and are barely out of place.
- Open (compound) fracture. The skin may be pierced by the bone or by a blow that breaks the skin at the time of the fracture.
- Transverse fracture.
- Oblique fracture.
- Comminuted fracture.
What are the 3 most common causes of fractures?
The following are common causes of broken bones:
- Fall from a height.
- Trauma.
- Motor vehicle accidents.
- Direct blow.
- Child abuse.
- Repetitive forces, such as those caused by running, can cause stress fractures of the foot, ankle, tibia, or hip.
What is a Greenstick fracture?
A greenstick fracture occurs when a bone bends and cracks, instead of breaking completely into separate pieces. The fracture looks similar to what happens when you try to break a small, “green” branch on a tree. Most greenstick fractures occur in children younger than 10 years of age.
What are the types of fracture and their meaning?
Linear Fracture: the break is parallel to the bone’s long axis. Oblique Fracture: the break has a curved or sloped pattern. Pathologic Fracture: caused by a disease that weakens the bones. Spiral Fracture: one part of the bone has been twisted at the break point.
What are the 5 types of bone fractures?
The following are five common types of fractures that you could run into:
- Stable fracture. This injury occurs when the bone is broken but the halves are still in line with each other.
- Compound fracture.
- Transverse fracture.
- Oblique fracture.
- Comminuted fracture.
What are the four types of fracture?
Common Types of Broken Bones
- Simple or Closed Fracture. A bone fracture is classified as simple or closed if the broken bone remains within the body and does not push into or out of the skin.
- Compound or Open Fracture.
- Incomplete or Partial Fracture.
- Complete Fracture.
What is the most common type of fracture?
The collarbone, or clavicle, is one of the most frequently broken bones. It’s the most common type of fracture in children and teens. Seniors usually break their collarbones from a hard fall. Younger adults, teens, and children are more likely to break their collarbone in a car accident or from playing sports.
What are 4 types of fractures?
What is the treatment of fracture?
Treatment includes immobilising the bone with a plaster cast, or surgically inserting metal rods or plates to hold the bone pieces together. Some complicated fractures may need surgery and surgical traction.
What is a Galeazzi fracture?
A Galeazzi fracture-dislocation is a fracture of the distal third of the shaft of the radius with a disruption to the DRUJ. They can be classified by the direction of the ulna displacement: Volar. Dorsal.
What is a Barton fracture?
A Barton fracture is a compression injury with a marginal shearing fracture of the distal radius. The most common cause of this injury is a fall on an outstretched, pronated wrist.
What is fracture and types?
In a complete fracture, your bone breaks completely. It’s snapped or crushed into two or more pieces. Types of complete fracture include: single fracture, in which your bone is broken in one place into two pieces. comminuted fracture, in which your bone is broken or crushed into three or more pieces.
Which medicine is best for fracture?
Medications. A pain reliever such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others), or a combination of the two, can reduce pain and inflammation. If you’re experiencing severe pain, your health care provider might prescribe stronger pain medications.
What type of fracture needs surgery?
Fractures that require surgery
For example, an open or comminuted fracture will require surgery to ensure that the bone fully grows back together and safely supports your weight. Surgical repair entails using metal rods, screws, or plates to set the bone in place or align it while it heals.
What is Bennett fracture?
The Bennett fracture is the most common fracture involving the base of the thumb. This fracture refers to an intraarticular fracture that separates the palmar ulnar aspect of the first metacarpal base from the remaining first metacarpal.
What is a Pott’s fracture?
Bony injuries and fractures around the ankle joint are colloquially known as Pott’s fractures. Accurate anatomical reduction of the fracture by closed or open means is very important. Any residual incongruity left in the articular surface will lead to early degenerative arthritis of the joint.
Which antibiotic is used for fracture?
Medication Summary
Prescribe antibiotics for open fractures, usually a cephalosporin (ie, cefazolin sodium) with broad-spectrum coverage added for grossly contaminated wounds.
Which injection is used for fracture?
Denosumab injection (Prolia) is used
to treat men who have an increased risk for fractures (broken bones) or who cannot take or did not respond to other medication treatments for osteoporosis.
Which types of fractures are most difficult to repair?
Example: A comminuted fracture is the most difficult to repair due to the bone having fractured into numerous pieces. Multiple bone pieces require more effort to hold them together in the ideal position for healing.
What is the most serious type of fracture?
Considered to be among the most severe types of fractures, a comminuted fracture occurs when the bone breaks into more than two pieces. The bone may be crushed or splintered into several small fragments or shards. A fracture such as this is often found after a high-impact trauma, such as a vehicle accident.
What is a Jefferson’s fracture?
A Jefferson fracture is a bone fracture of the vertebra C1. The vertebra C1 is a bony ring, with two wedge-shaped lateral masses, connected by relatively thin anterior and posterior arches and a transverse ligament.