COMMINUTED, IMPACTED, & COMPLICATED FRACTURES

Comminuted Fractures:

A fracture in which the bone is splintered or crushed.

Impacted Fracture:

A fracture in which one fragment is firmly driven into the other.

Complicated Fracture:


This is a fracture accompanied by injury to neighboring soft tissues, such as nerves and blood vessels.

Causes of a fracture:

Traumatic incidents such as sporting injuries, vehicle incidents and falls.

Conditions such as osteoporosis and some types of cancer that cause bones to fracture more easily, meaning even minor trauma and falls can become serious.

Symptoms:

• Swelling or bruising over a bone.
• Deformity of an arm or leg.
• Pain in the injured area that gets worse when the area is moved or pressure is applied.
• Loss of function in the injured area.
• In open fractures, bone coming out of the skin.

Depending on where the fracture is and how severe, treatment may include:

Splints – to stop movement of the broken limb.
Braces – to support the bone.
Plaster cast – to provide support and immobilise the bone.
Traction – a less common option.
Surgically inserted metal rods or plates – to hold the bone pieces together.

To help prevent fractures, follow general safety precautions, including:

-Always wear a seat belt in a car.
-Always wear the proper safety equipment (helmets and other protective pads) for recreational activities, such as cycling or contact sports.
-Keep walkways and stairs free of objects you could trip over.
-If you have osteoporosis, take regular exercise to improve your strength and balance. This may help to reduce the risk of falls.

Prognosis:

Simple, uncomplicated fractures usually heal in 6 to 12 weeks; loss of function is uncommon. Any increase in severity of the fracture or added complications will delay recovery for weeks to months and may compromise function. While the fracture may heal, damage to the surrounding structures can result in poor function of an extremity and a less than optimum outcome.

Resources:

www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au
www.webmd.boots.com
www.mdguidelines.com