Bone Fractures - a break in a bone

• Classified based on:

  • Position of bone ends (displaced vs non-displaced)
  • Completeness of break (complete vs. incomplete)
  • Penetration of skin
  • Orientation of break
• Position of bone ends (displaced vs non-displaced)Displaced – bones break and move; ends not lined up

  • Non-displaced – bones break but remain in place
• Bones break and move; ends not lined up…?

  Displaced
• Bones break but remain in place…?

  Non-displaced
• Completeness of break (complete vs. incomplete)

  • Complete - snaps in two or more parts Incomplete- cracks but does not break all the way through
• Snaps in two or more parts

  Complete
• Cracks but does not break all the way through…?

  Incomplete
• Penetration of skin

  • Closed (simple)
  • Open (compound) – breaks through skin
• Breaks through skin

  Open (compound)
• Direction of break

  Orientation of break