Skeletal System - Fractures

​Unit 4 - Skeletal System

By Charissa Haywood

​Mini Lesson

A fracture is a break or crack in a bone. A fracture occurs when force exerted against a bone is stronger than the bone can structurally withstand.

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​What is a fracture?

• When a patient has broken a bone they are likely to have pain, swelling, bruising, deformity (looks out of place), inability to use a limb.

• Diagnostic Tests like XRays, CT Scans, or MRI's can help confirm if a patient has a broken bone.

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​How do we know when a bone is fractured?

Poll

Take your best guess: What bones do you think are the ones MOST broken?

• Upper Arm

• Lower Arm

• Wrist

• Shoulder

• The 5 most common broken bones in children are the

  • Humerus (upper arm bone)

  • Ulna (lower arm bone)

  • Radius (lower arm bone)

  • Tibia (Lower leg bone)

  • Fibula (Lower leg bone)

• Most common cause of broken bones in kids:

  • Monkey Bars

  • Trampoline

  • Scooters

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is NOT a common fracture in kids?

• Ulna

• Radius

• Humerus

• Ribs

There are several different categories of fractures so let's learn a few of the basics. All fractures can be classified as partial or complete.

A partial fracture (as seen here to the left) is where the bone is NOT broken all the way through.

A complete fracture (as seen here to the right) is where the bone is broken all the way through.

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All fractures can also be classified as closed or open.

A closed fracture is a break in the bone that stays inside the skin. This is also known as a "simple" fracture. (top pic)

An open fracture is a break where the bone is so badly broken, it protrudes or pokes through the skin and can be seen from the outside. (side pic)

Open Ended

When a patient suffers an open fracture it is very serious. Other than fixing the broken bone, what are some other risks or concerns the medical team might have?

Fractures can also be classified as non-displaced or displaced.

A non-displaced fracture is a break in the bone where the two ends where the bone is fractured still line up and have not moved out of place.

An displaced fracture is a break where the two ends of the broken bone are NOT lined up and have moved out of place and will need to be re-set.

Fractures can also be classified as transverse or oblique.

A transverse fracture is a break that occurs in a straight line across the bone.

An oblique fracture is a break that occurs at a diagonal angle across the bone.

Labelling

Look at the picture of this leg fracture. Place the appropriate type of fracture in the correct box.

Drag labels to their correct position on the image

Oblique

Non-Displaced

Complete

Closed

Transverse

Partial

Displaced

Open

Let's talk about a few more types. The following types of fractures don't really exist in pairs of opposites like the others have. They kind of stand alone.

A greenstick fracture is a partial break (doesn't break all the way through the bone) that causes the bone to bend.

These are common in younger children because their bones are softer and more flexible. These fractures are usually caused by a child falling.

An impacted fracture is a break where the broken ends of the bone are jammed together by the force of the injury. Sometimes this is also called a buckle fracture

In this bottom picture you can see the impacted fracture gives the appearance of the bones buckling or smushed together

A comminuted fracture is an intense break due to a severe trauma that causes the bones to be broken in at least three pieces. Sometimes these fractures leave many bone fragments at the fracture site.

A segmental fracture is one bone that is broken in two places causing a "floating" segment of bone between the two breaks.

Labelling

Label the XRay image with the appropriate name for the fracture.

Drag labels to their correct position on the image

Segmental

Impacted

Greenstick

Comminuted

What do I do now?

​Create-A-Fracture

You will need the "Create-a-Fracture" packet. For each type of fracture, you will cut out your bone and then cut and position the bone to represent the image of that fracture. You can use the front of the packet to remind you of each fracture and the definition.