Extent/shape
In a complete fracture, the bone is broken into two or more pieces. Types of complete fracture are:
- segmental
- transverse
- spiral
- butterfly
- oblique
- comminuted
- impacted
In an incomplete fracture, the bone is incompletely divided and the periosteum retains continuity:
- greenstick
- compression or crush
Complete fractures are liable to be displaced. If this occurs, then it is worthwhile describing also the displacement. Conventionally this is in terms of:
- apposition - have the fragments been shifted such that the surfaces are no longer apposed
- alignment - have the fragments been tilted. Uncorrected malalignment often leads to deformity
- rotation - have any of the fragments been rotated on its longitudinal axis
- length - do the fragments overlap or are they distracted
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