Bone Fracture & Repair
A fracture is a break in a bone. There are a variety of types of fractures. Generally speaking a fracture can be closed (simple) or open (compound). In a closed fracture the break in the bone does not penetrate the skin. In an open fracture the broken bone fragment penetrates through the layers of skin.
Comminuted Fracture
bone breaks into many fragments
bone breaks into many fragments
Compression Fracture
bone is crushed; commonly seen in patients with osteoporosis
bone is crushed; commonly seen in patients with osteoporosis
Impacted Fracture
broken bone ends are forced into each other
broken bone ends are forced into each other
Spiral (Oblique) Fracture
ragged break occurs when excessive twisting forces are applied to a bone
ragged break occurs when excessive twisting forces are applied to a bone
Greenstick Fracture
young, soft bone bend & breaks incompletely; common in growing children
young, soft bone bend & breaks incompletely; common in growing children
Epiphyseal Fracture
bone break at site of epiphyseal plate in a growing child; can have serious impact on bone growth & development
bone break at site of epiphyseal plate in a growing child; can have serious impact on bone growth & development
Repair of Bone Fractures
An orthopedic doctor diagnoses & treats musculoskeletal diseases and injuries. An orthopedist may use any of the following methods to treat a fracture:
- closed reduction (casting) - immobilize bones/joints while remodeling occurs and provides support and protection for soft tissue normally provided by those injured bones
- open reduction & internal fixation - surgery is needed to repair complicated breaks; pins, rods & plates are surgically set in place provide structure and support
- open reduction & external fixation - surgery is needed to repair complicated breaks; an external fixation device is installed to provide structure & support to hold bone in place for bone remodeling, once healed the external devices are removed
The bone & surrounding tissue goes through 4 stages of healing and repair after a fracture.
- Formation of a hematoma (blood-filled swelling)
- Formation of a fibrocartilage callus (cartilage matrix, bony matrix, collagen fibers splint the broken bone)
- Bony callus replaces fibrocartilage callus (osteoblasts and osteoclasts migrate to site of fracture)
- Bone remodeling occurs in response to mechanical stresses
Superflexible, 3-D printed “bones” trigger new growth
hyperelastic bone / n. ˈhī-per ə̇ˈlastik bōn
a highly flexible 3-D printed scaffold used to repair broken or damaged bones.
a highly flexible 3-D printed scaffold used to repair broken or damaged bones.