A fracture is a discontinuity in a bone (or cartilage) resulting from mechanical forces which exceed the bone's ability to withstand them.

Terminology

A fracture is often written as # in medical shorthand, i.e. the hash symbol, although it is still pronounced as fracture, e.g. "neck of femur fracture", may be written as "#NOF".

Most commonly fractures occur in the setting of a normal bone with acute overwhelming force, usually in the setting of trauma. Fractures can also occur, however, in a variety of other settings.

Firstly, the entire skeleton may be weak due to metabolic (e.g. osteoporosis) or less frequently genetic abnormalities (e.g. osteogenesis imperfecta) and thus prone to fractures from forces that would be insufficient to cause fractures in normal bones. These are known as insufficiency fractures.

Secondly, the protracted chronic application of abnormal stresses (e.g. running)  can result in the accumulation of microfractures faster than the body can heal, eventually resulting in macroscopic failure. These are termed fatigue fractures.

Together, insufficiency and fatigue fractures are often grouped together as stress fractures. 

Thirdly, the bone may have a lesion that focally weakens it (e.g. metastasis, bone cyst, etc). These are known as pathological fractures. 

Rarely the term 'fracture' is also used for non-osseous/chondral structures (e.g. penile fracture) although if unqualified it is assumed one is referring to a bony fracture. 

Although many eponymous fractures exist and the relevant particulars of a fracture will depend on its specific location, generally fractures are described in a consistent manner:

Location

• which bone is fractured

• which part of the bone is affected 

  • general: epiphysis, physis, metaphysis, diaphysis

  • specific features: e.g. tubercle, epicondyle, etc...

Type

Fractures usually fall within a set number of patterns. 

• complete fracture: extends all the way across the bone (most common)

  • transverse fracture: perpendicular to the axis of the bone

  • oblique fracture: oriented obliquely across the bone

  • spiral fracture: helical fracture path usually in the diaphysis of long bones

  • comminuted fracture: more than two parts

• incomplete fracture: does not cross the bone completely (usually encountered in children)

  • bowing fracture

  • buckle fracture: the cortex is buckled, often in the distal radius

  • greenstick fracture: the cortex is broken, but only on one side

Displacement

The relationship between fracture fragments can be described using the following terms. 

• fracture translation (a.k.a. translocation or displacement)

  • direction: usually of the distal part relative to the proximal part

  • amount: linear measurement or % width

• fracture angulation

  • direction: usually of the distal part relative to the proximal part

  • amount: in degrees

• fracture rotation

  • direction: terminology will depend on the location

  • amount: in degrees

• fracture length

  • direction: usually of the distal part relative to the proximal part

  • amount: linear measurement

  • distraction versus shortening (impaction or depression)

Complications

Many of the aforementioned fracture types can also go on to have additional complicating features, not to mention many associated soft tissue injuries beyond the scope of this article.  

• compound fracture: extending through the skin

• joint involvement

  • intracapsular 

  • articular

  • dislocation

Pathology

The pathophysiological sequence of events that occur following a fracture and eventually (hopefully) lead to complete fracture healing are fairly stereotyped and can be divided into three main phases:

1. inflammatory

2. reparative

3. remodeling

Inflammatory phase

Immediately at the time of fracture, the space between fracture ends is filled with blood forming a hematoma. Not only does this hematoma stop additional bleeding it also provides structural and biochemical support for the influx of inflammatory cells, fibroblasts, chondroblasts and the ingrowth of capillaries ¹. 

At the end of this process, which usually takes approximately a week, a primary callus (also known as soft-tissue callus, or procallus) is present which is non-mineralized and not readily visible on radiography ¹. 

Reparative phase

Over the ensuing few weeks this primary callus is transformed into a bony callus by the activation of osteoprogenitor cells. These cells lay down woven bone which stabilizes the fracture site ¹. 

Remodeling phase

The remodeling phase lasts many months, and even years, and represents the gradual formation of compact cortical bone with greater biomechanical properties and allows for the reduction of the width of the callus. In some instances, remodeling can result in almost perfect healing. In most instances, however, particularly if the alignment is not perfect, a residual deformity will remain. 

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of a fracture is mainly based on typical radiographic criteria proving the bony discontinuity. 

Radiographic features

Fractures are generally imaged using plain radiographs, however, there are a number of situations in which CT, MRI, bone scans or ultrasound are useful:

• when 3D anatomy is complex (e.g. joints, wrists, feet, the base of skull, spine)

• when plain films are insensitive to non-displaced fractures (e.g. base of skull, spine, sacrum, or proximal neck of femur)

• when a pathological fracture is suspected

Both plain radiographs and CT rely on the identification of discontinuity of bone at the fracture site. In contrast, MRI relies primarily on visualizing soft tissue and bone marrow changes, whereas nuclear medicine (e.g. bone scans) visualizes bone metabolic changes. 

Historically ultrasound was not considered to be the first-line modality to diagnose fractures and has been more commonly used for children. However, there is now renewed interest in its use as a POCUS tool in the emergency setting ².

Plain radiograph

The radiographic positions should be optimal for the evaluation on plain radiograph to be valid. Radiographic features include ³:

• discontinuity of the cortical and trabecular bone

• step off in cortical and trabecular bone

• displacement of osseous fragments

• presence of abnormal fat pad or elevation of fat pad

• Impaction lines or sclerotic bands

CT

CT is useful in detecting occult fractures. Several advantages of CT includes: short acquisition time, ability to acquire volumetric image of the bone, with good spatial resolution. CT is also useful in excluding bone marrow edema, space-occupying lesions such as malignancy, and osteomyelitis. Some features of fractures include ³:

• discontinuity of the cortical and trabecular bone

• depressed/depressed articular surfaces

• increased medullary density

• endosteal sclerosis

• sclerotic lines in trabecular bone

• periosteal thickening

Treatment and prognosis

The fundamentals of fracture healing rely on alignment and immobilization. Alignment may or may not be necessary depending on the degree of displacement, the importance of correct alignment (e.g. index finger vs rib) and the particulars of the patient (e.g. professional athlete vs debilitated elderly). 

Immobilization can be achieved in a variety of ways depending on the location and morphology of the fracture. 

• none (e.g. most rib fractures)  

• sling (e.g. many clavicular fractures)

• cast (e.g. many forearm fractures)

• internal fixation (e.g. most hip fractures): open vs closed reduction

• external fixation