Mechanisms of Bone fracture

Mechanisms by which bones fracture

Bones can fracture by a number of different mechanisms:

• Direct violence - a direct blow to the bone e.g. road traffic accident
• Indirect violence - no actual violence or contact is applied to the site of the fracture. Such a fracture most commonly occurs as a result of a twisting injury
• Pathological fractures - fractures occur in bone which have been weakened already due to a pathological process
• Fatigue fractures - occur as a resulot of repetitive stress.

Describing a Fracture