intrauterine fracture

fracture /frac·ture/ (frak´cher)

1. the breaking of a part, especially a bone.

2. a break or rupture in a bone.

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avulsion fracture  separation of a small fragment of bone cortex at the site of attachment of a ligament or tendon.

axial compression fracture  fracture of a vertebra by excessive vertical force so that pieces of it move out in horizontal directions.

Barton's fracture  fracture of the distal end of the radius into the wrist joint.

Bennett's fracture  fracture of the base of the first metacarpal bone running into the carpometacarpal joint, complicated by subluxation.

blow-out fracture  fracture of the orbital floor caused by a sudden increase of intraorbital pressure due to traumatic force; the orbital contents herniate into the maxillary sinus so that the inferior rectus or inferior oblique muscle may become incarcerated in the fracture site, producing diplopia on looking up.

burst fracture  axial compression f.

capillary fracture  one that appears on a radiogram as a fine, hairlike line, the segments of bone not being separated; sometimes seen in fractures of the skull.

closed fracture  one that does not produce an open wound in the skin; cf. open f.

Colles' fracture  fracture of the lower end of the radius, the lower fragment being displaced backward; if the lower fragment is displaced forward, it is a reverse Colles' fracture.

comminuted fracture  one in which the bone is splintered or crushed.

complete fracture  one involving the entire cross section of the bone.

compound fracture  open f.

depressed fracture , depressed skull fracture fracture of the skull in which a fragment is depressed.

de Quervain's fracture  fracture of the navicular bone together with a volar luxation of the lunate bone.

direct fracture  one at the site of injury.

dislocation fracture  fracture of a bone near an articulation with concomitant dislocation of that joint.

Dupuytren's fracture  Pott's f.

Duverney's fracture  fracture of the ilium just below the anterior inferior spine.

fissure fracture  a crack extending from a surface into, but not through, a long bone.

freeze fracture  see freeze-fracturing.

greenstick fracture  one in which one side of a bone is broken, the other being bent.

hangman's fracture  fracture through the pedicles of the axis (C2) with or without subluxation of the second cervical vertebra or the third.

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

incomplete fracture  one which does not entirely destroy the continuity of the bone.

insufficiency fracture  a stress fracture that occurs during normal stress on a bone of abnormally decreased density.

intrauterine fracture  fracture of a fetal bone incurred in utero.

Jefferson's fracture  fracture of the atlas (first cervical vertebra).

lead pipe fracture  one in which the bone cortex is slightly compressed and bulged on one side with a slight crack on the other side of the bone.

Le Fort fracture  bilateral horizontal fracture of the maxilla. Le Fort fractures are classified as follows: Le Fort I f., a horizontal segmented fracture of the alveolar process of the maxilla, in which the teeth are usually contained in the detached portion of the bone. Le Fort II f., unilateral or bilateral fracture of the maxilla, in which the body of the maxilla is separated from the facial skeleton and the separated portion is pyramidal in shape; the fracture may extend through the body of the maxilla down the midline of the hard palate, through the floor of the orbit, and into the nasal cavity. Le Fort III f., a fracture in which the entire maxilla and one or more facial bones are completely separated from the craniofacial skelton; such fractures are almost always accompanied by multiple fractures of the facial bones.

Monteggia's fracture  one in the proximal half of the shaft of the ulna, with dislocation of the head of the radius.

open fracture  one in which a wound through the adjacent or overlying soft tissues communicates with the site of the break.

parry fracture  Monteggia's f.

pathologic fracture  one due to weakening of the bone structure by pathologic processes, such as neoplasia, osteomalacia, or osteomyelitis.

ping-pong fracture  a type of depressed skull fracture usually seen in young children, resembling the indentation that can be produced with the finger in a ping-pong ball; when elevated it resumes and retains its normal position.

Pott's fracture  fracture of the lower part of the fibula, with serious injury of the lower tibial articulation, usually a chipping off of a portion of the medial malleolus, or rupture of the medial ligament.

pyramidal fracture (of maxilla)  Le Fort II f.

sagittal slice fracture  fracture of a vertebra breaking it in an oblong direction; the spinal column above is displaced horizontally, usually causing paraplegia.

silver fork fracture  Colles' f.

simple fracture  closed f.

Smith's fracture  reverse Colles' f.

spiral fracture  one in which the bone has been twisted apart.

spontaneous fracture  pathologic f.

sprain fracture  the separation of a tendon from its insertion, taking with it a piece of bone.

Stieda's fracture  fracture of the internal condyle of the femur.

stress fracture  that caused by unusual or repeated stress on a bone.

transverse facial fracture  Le Fort III f.

transverse maxillary fracture  a term sometimes used for horizontal maxillary fracture (Le Fort I f.).

trophic fracture  one due to nutritional (trophic) disturbance.

wedge-compression fracture  compression fracture of only the anterior part of a vertebra, leaving it wedge-shaped.

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intrauterine fracture

n.

A fracture of one or more fetal bones that occurs before birth.

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intrauterine fracture,

a fracture that occurs during fetal life.

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fracture [frak´chur]

1. the breaking of a part, especially a bone.

2. a break in continuity of bone; it may be caused by trauma, twisting due to muscle spasm or indirect loss of leverage, or by disease that results in osteopenia. See illustration.

Types of fractures.

Treatment. Immediate first aid consists of splinting the bone with no attempt to reduce the fracture; it should be splinted “as it lies,” which means supporting it in such a way that the injured part will remain steady and will resist jarring if the victim is moved. Later it will be treated by reduction, which means that the broken ends are pulled into alignment and the continuity of the bone is established so that healing can take place. Fracture healing is truly a process of regeneration. Fractures heal with normal bone, not with scar tissue. Closed reduction is performed by manual manipulation of the fractured bone so that the fragments are brought into proper alignment; no surgical incision is made. Open fractures are highly contaminated and must be débrided and copiously irrigated in the operating room. A fracture may also require internal fixation with pins, nails, metal plates, or screws to stabilize the alignment. Once closed reduction is accomplished, the bone is immobilized by application of a cast or by an apparatus exerting traction on the distal end of the bone.

avulsion fracture separation of a small fragment of bone cortex at the site of attachment of a ligament or tendon.

Barton's fracture fracture of the distal end of the radius into the wrist joint.

Bennett's fracture fracture of the base of the first metacarpal bone, running into the carpometacarpal joint, complicated by subluxation.

blow-out fracture fracture of the orbital floor caused by a sudden increase of intraorbital pressure due to traumatic force; the orbital contents herniate into the maxillary sinus so that the inferior rectus or inferior oblique muscle may become incarcerated in the fracture site, producing diplopia on looking up.

closed fracture one that does not produce an open wound, as opposed to an open fracture. See illustration. Called also simple fracture.

Colles' fracture fracture of the lower end of the radius, the distal fragment being displaced backward.

comminuted fracture one in which the bone is splintered or crushed, with three or more fragments. See illustration.

complete fracture one involving the entire cross section of the bone.

compound fracture open fracture.

compression fracture one produced by compression.

depressed fracture (depressed skull fracture) fracture of the skull in which a fragment is depressed.

direct fracture one at the site of injury.

dislocation fracture fracture of a bone near an articulation with concomitant dislocation of that joint.

double fracture fracture of a bone in two places.

Dupuytren's fracture Pott's fracture.

Duverney's fracture fracture of the ilium just below the anterior inferior spine.

fissure fracture a crack extending from a surface into, but not through, a long bone.

greenstick fracture one in which one side of a bone is broken and the other is bent, most commonly seen in children. See illustration.

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

incomplete fracture one that does not involve the complete cross section of the bone.

indirect fracture one distant from the site of injury.

interperiosteal fracture greenstick fracture.

intrauterine fracture fracture of a fetal bone incurred in utero.

Jefferson's fracture fracture of the atlas (first cervical vertebra).

lead pipe fracture one in which the bone cortex is slightly compressed and bulged on one side with a slight crack on the other side of the bone.

Le Fort fracture bilateral horizontal fracture of the maxilla. Le Fort fractures are classified as follows: Le Fort I fracture, a horizontal segmented fracture of the alveolar process of the maxilla, in which the teeth are usually contained in the detached portion of the bone. Le Fort II fracture, unilateral or bilateral fracture of the maxilla, in which the body of the maxilla is separated from the facial skeleton and the separated portion is pyramidal in shape; the fracture may extend through the body of the maxilla down the midline of the hard palate, through the floor of the orbit, and into the nasal cavity. Le Fort III fracture, a fracture in which the entire maxilla and one or more facial bones are completely separated from the craniofacial skeleton; such fractures are almost always accompanied by multiple fractures of the facial bones.

longitudinal fracture one extending along the length of the bone. See illustration.

Monteggia's fracture one in the proximal half of the shaft of the ulna, with dislocation of the head of the radius.

oblique fracture one in which the break extends in an oblique direction. See illustration.

open fracture one in which a wound through the adjacent or overlying soft tissue communicates with the outside of the body; this must be considered a surgical emergency. The compounding may come from within (by a bone protruding through the skin) or from without (e.g., by a bullet wound communicating with the bone). See illustration. Called also compound fracture.

pathologic fracture one due to weakening of the bone structure by pathologic processes such as neoplasia or osteomalacia; see illustration. Called also spontaneous fracture.

pertrochanteric fracture fracture of the femur passing through the greater trochanter.

ping-pong fracture an indented fracture of the skull, resembling the indentation that can be produced with the finger in a ping-pong ball; when elevated it resumes and retains its normal position.

Pott's fracture fracture of lower part of the fibula with serious injury of the lower tibial articulation.

simple fracture closed fracture.

Smith's fracture reversed Colles' fracture.

spiral fracture one in which the bone has been twisted and the fracture line resembles a spiral. See illustration.

spontaneous fracture pathologic fracture.

sprain fracture the separation of a tendon from its insertion, taking with it a piece of bone.

stellate fracture one with a central point of injury, from which radiate numerous fissures.

Stieda's fracture a fracture of the internal condyle of the femur.

transcervical fracture one through the neck of the femur.

transverse fracture one at right angles to the axis of the bone. See illustration.

trophic fracture one due to a nutritional (trophic) disturbance.

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fracture

1. the breaking of a part, especially a bone.

2. a break in the continuity of bone. Fractures may be caused by trauma, by twisting due to muscle spasm, or indirect loss of leverage or by disease that results in decalcification of the bone.

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avulsion fracture

separation of a small fragment of bone cortex at the site of attachment of a ligament or tendon.

blow-out fracture

fracture of the orbital floor caused by a sudden increase of intraorbital pressure due to traumatic force; the orbital contents herniate into the maxillary sinus so that the inferior rectus or inferior oblique muscle may become incarcerated in the fracture site, producing diplopia on looking up.

capillary fracture

one that appears on a radiograph as a fine, hairlike line, the segments of bone not being separated; sometimes seen in fractures of the skull.

closed fracture

one that does not produce an open wound.

comminuted fracture

one in which the bone is splintered or crushed.

complete fracture

one involving the entire cross-section of the bone.

compound fracture

see open fracture (below).

compression fracture

one produced by compression.

contaminated fracture

see open fracture (below).

depressed fracture

fracture of the skull in which a fragment is depressed. See also depression fracture.

direct fracture

one at the site of injury.

dislocation fracture

fracture of a bone near an articulation with concomitant dislocation of that joint.

double fracture

fracture of a bone in two places.

fissure fracture

a crack extending from a surface into, but not through, a long bone.

greenstick fracture

one in which one side of a bone is broken, the other being bent.

impacted fracture

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

incomplete fracture

one that does not involve the complete cross-section of the bone.

indirect fracture

one at a point distant from the site of injury.

interperiosteal fracture

greenstick or incomplete fracture.

intrauterine fracture

fracture of a fetal bone incurred in utero.

lead pipe fracture

one in which the bone cortex is slightly compressed and bulged on one side with a slight crack on the other side of the bone.

malunion fracture

a large space between the displaced ends of the bone has been filled by new bone.

nonunion fracture

there is still a wide translucent space between the ends of the broken bone.

oblique fracture

a common type, usually seen in the shaft of a long bone, such as the femur, tibia or humerus.

Oblique fractures of the radius and ulna. By permission from Lamb CR, Diagnostic Imaging of the Dog and Cat, Mosby, 1993

open fracture

one in which a wound through the adjacent or overlying soft tissues communicates with the site of the break; called also compound fracture. A classification system has been used which is based on the mechanism of injury and the extent of tissue damage. In type I, a bone fragment was briefly forced through the skin leaving a communicating wound; type II fractures are caused by impact and there is damage to overlying tissues and exposure of the bone; in type III, there is extensive damage and loss of overlying tissues, including shearing and degloving wounds, with loss of vascular supply.

pathological fracture

one due to weakening of the bone structure by pathological processes, such as neoplasia, osteomalacia or osteomyelitis.

pertrochanteric fracture

fracture of the femur passing through the greater trochanter.

Salter fracture

see salter classification.

saucer fracture

creates a saucer-shaped fragment; caused usually by direct trauma at midshaft in a long bone. Likely to create a sequestrum.

simple fracture

closed fracture.

slab fracture

one in which a flat piece of underlying bone or tooth is separated or lost. Common in carpal bones of horses and in teeth.

spiral fracture

one in which the bone has been twisted apart.

spontaneous fracture

pathological fracture.

sprain fracture

the separation of a tendon from its insertion, taking with it a piece of bone. See also avulsion fracture (above).

stellate fracture

one with a central point of injury, from which radiate numerous fissures.

stress fracture

fracture produced by the stress created by the pull of muscles without the intervention of trauma or extreme weight-bearing.

trabecular fracture

there is no discontinuity of the bone as a whole but microscopic examination shows fractured trabeculae.

transverse fracture

one at right angles to the axis of the bone.

trophic fracture

one due to a nutritional (trophic) disturbance.