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Broken bone

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:

References:

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

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