FRACTURES 



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15. FRACTURES 



When a bone is broken into two or more parts it is said to be fractured: 

 Fractures assume a variety of forms, each of which presents some feature 

 requiring special consideration, either in regard to diagnosis or treatment. 

 They may be either partial or com- 

 plete; simple or compound; commin- 

 uted or impacted. 



When a bone is broken, but the 

 breach only extends through a portion 

 of its substance, the fracture is said 

 to be partial. If, however, the bone 

 is divided into two separate parts, it 

 is a complete fracture. 



A simple fracture is one in which 

 the broken bone is not connected with 

 an external wound; where such a 

 wound exists and communicates with 

 it the fracture becomes a compound 

 one (fig. 329). 



If instead of the bone being broken 

 into two parts it is divided into three 



more smashed a comminuted 



V] 



or 



r : 



fracture results (fig. 325). 



It sometimes happens that when 

 a bone is broken the broken end of 

 one piece is driven into that of the 

 other. Such a fracture is said to be 

 impacted (fig. 328). 



Bones break in various directions; 

 hence fractures are spoken of as trans- 

 verse, longitudinal, or oblique (fig. 

 326). 



A transverse fracture follows a line at a right angle with the shaft 

 of the bone. This is a comparatively rare form of breakage, but is some- 

 times seen in the scapula, the ilium, the olecranon or elbow, and the 

 calcaneus, or point of the hock. 



Great importance attaches to the relations which the two or more 

 broken pieces maintain towards each other after the fracture has taken 

 place. In some instances they continue to remain in their natural position 



Fig. 325. Fractures 

 1, Simple. 2, Comminuted. 



