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Illustrated Health Encyclopedia
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Ency. home > Injury > F > Fracture

Fracture    See images

Overview | Symptoms | Treatment | Prevention

Alternative names:

Bone - broken; Broken bone; Stress fracture

Definition:

A fracture is an injury that disrupts bone tissue. A stress fracture is a break in a bone, usually small, that develops because of repeated or prolonged forces against the bone.

Considerations

If more pressure is put on a bone than it can stand, it will split or break. An open fracture (in which bone breaks the skin) can easily become infected.

Assume a young child has a broken bone and get medical help if the child does not start to use an injured arm or leg within hours of an accident, or if they continue to cry when the injured area is touched. It is hard to tell a dislocated bone from a broken bone. However, both are emergency situations, and the basic first aid steps are the same for both.

Causes

  • Fall from a height
  • Motor vehicle accidents
  • Direct blow
  • Child abuse
  • Repetitive forces such as those caused by running can cause stress fractures of the foot, ankle, tibia, and hip

Ency. home > Injury > F > Fracture

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