What is the Difference Between Fracture and Break?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚The terms "fracture" and "break" are often used interchangeably when referring to bone injuries, and both mean the same thing. A fracture or break occurs when a bone is broken, cracked, splintered, or completely separated into pieces. There are different types of fractures, such as simple fractures (broken in two pieces) and complex fractures (broken into more than two pieces). Other types include stress fractures, hairline fractures, and greenstick fractures.
The main difference between a fracture and a break is the terminology used. "Fracture" is the medical term for a broken bone and may sound more professional, while "break" is a more colloquial term. Both terms can be used to describe the same injury, and their usage does not affect the severity or treatment of the injury.
In summary, the key points are:
- Fractures and breaks refer to the same type of injury, involving a break in the bone.
- The terms are interchangeable and can be used to describe different types of bone injuries.
- The severity of the injury and the treatment required do not change based on whether the term "fracture" or "break" is used.
Comparative Table: Fracture vs Break
The terms "fracture" and "break" are often used interchangeably to describe the same type of injury, which is a loss of continuity in a bone. Here is a table summarizing the differences between various types of fractures:
| Type of Fracture | Description |
|---|---|
| Simple Fracture | A bone that is broken in two pieces. |
| Complex Fracture | A bone that is broken into more than two pieces. |
| Closed Fracture | A fracture that remains underneath the skin. |
| Open (Compound) Fracture | A fracture where the skin is pierced by the bone or by a blow that breaks the skin at the time of the fracture. |
| Stress Fracture | A small crack in the bone that often happens from overuse. |
| Hairline Fracture | A very thin break in the bone that may not show up on an X-ray right away. |
| Greenstick Fracture | A fracture where the bone cracks but does not break all the way through, usually happening to children because their bones are softer than adult bones. |
| Stable Fracture | The broken ends of the bone line up and are barely out of place. |
| Oblique Fracture | A break in the bone that is at an angle to the length of the bone. |
| Transverse Fracture | A fracture with a horizontal fracture line. |
| Comminuted Fracture | A fracture where the bone breaks apart into more than two segments. |
The severity of a fracture usually depends on the force that caused the break. If the bone's breaking point has been exceeded only slightly, the bone may crack rather than break all the way through. If the force is extreme, such as that caused by an automobile crash or gunshot, the bone may shatter, resulting in a comminuted fracture.
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