• Home

Home > Medical Reference > Encyclopedia (English)

Toggle: English / Spanish

Broken bone

• Overview
• Symptoms
• Treatment
• Prevention

Definition:

If more pressure is put on a bone than it can stand, it will split or break. A break of any size is called a fracture. If the broken bone punctures the skin, it is called an open fracture (compound fracture).

A stress fracture is a hairline crack in the bone that develops because of repeated or prolonged forces against the bone.

Alternative Names:

Bone - broken; Fracture; Stress fracture

Considerations:

It is hard to tell a dislocated bone from a broken bone. However, both are emergency situations, and the basic first aid steps are the same.

Causes:

The following are common causes of broken bones:

• Fall from a height
• Motor vehicle accidents
• Direct blow
• Child abuse
• Repetitive forces, such as those caused by running, can cause stress fractures of the foot, ankle, tibia, or hip

References:

Browner, BD. Skeletal Trauma: Basic Science, Management, and Reconstruction . 3rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders; 2003.

• Review Date: 5/7/2007
• Reviewed By: Thomas N. Joseph, MD, Private Practice specializing in Orthopaedics, subspecialty Foot and Ankle, Camden Bone & Joint, Camden, SC. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is the first of its kind, requiring compliance with 53 standards of quality and accountability, verified by independent audit. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial process . A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics (www.hiethics.com) and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 1997-2007 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.