A fracture is a partial or complete break in the bone. When a fracture happens, it's classified as either open or closed.

• Open fracture (compound fracture). The bone pokes through the skin and can be seen. Or a deep wound exposes the bone through the skin.
• Closed fracture (simple fracture). The bone is broken, but the skin is in place (intact).

Fractures have a variety of names. Here is a list of types.

• Greenstick. This is an incomplete break. A part of the bone is broken, causing the other side to bend.
• Transverse. The break is in a straight line across the bone.
• Spiral. The break spirals around the bone. This is common in twisting injuries.
• Oblique. The break is diagonal across the bone.
• Compression. The bone is crushed. This causes the broken bone to be wider or flatter in appearance.
• Comminuted. The bone has broken into three or more pieces. Fragments are present at the fracture site.
• Segmental. The same bone is broken in two places, so there is a "floating" piece of bone.
• Avulsion. The bone is broken near a tendon or ligament. A tendon or ligament pulls off a small piece of bone.

Fractures most often happen when more force is applied to the bone than the bone can take. Bones are weakest when they are twisted.

Bone fractures can be caused by falls, injuries, or direct hits or kicks to the body.

Overuse or repeated motions can tire muscles and put more pressure on a bone. This can cause stress fractures. This is more common in athletes and military recruits.

Fractures can also be caused by diseases that weaken the bone. This includes osteoporosis and cancer in the bones.

Symptoms may be a little different for each person. Symptoms of a broken or fractured bone may include:

• Sudden pain.
• Trouble using or moving the injured area or nearby joints.
• Being unable to bear weight.
• Swelling.
• An obvious deformity.
• Warmth, bruising, or redness.

Other health conditions can cause symptoms similar to a fracture. So it's important to go to a doctor for a diagnosis.

Your doctor will ask about your full health history and ask how the injury happened. The doctor will also do a physical exam. Tests used to diagnose a fracture may include:

• X-ray. This test uses invisible electromagnetic energy beams to make pictures on film of internal tissues, bones, and organs.
• MRI. This imaging test uses large magnets, radio waves, and a computer to make detailed pictures of structures in the body.
• CT scan. This test uses X-rays and a computer to make images of the body. A CT scan shows details of the bones, muscles, fat, and organs.

The goals of treatment are to put the pieces of bone back in place, control the pain, give the bone time to heal, prevent more problems, and restore normal use of the area where the fracture is.

Treatment may include:

• A splint or cast. This keeps the injured area from moving, so the bone stays in alignment. It protects the injured area from motion or use while the bone heals.
• Medicine. This may be needed to control pain.
• Traction. This is the use of a steady pulling action to stretch certain parts of the body in a certain direction. Traction often uses pulleys, strings, weights, and a metal frame attached over or on the bed. The purpose of traction is to stretch the muscles and tendons around the broken bone. This helps the bone ends to align and heal.
• Surgery. Surgery may be needed to put certain types of broken bones back into place. Sometimes metal rods or pins are put into the bone (internal fixation devices) or outside the body (external fixation devices). They hold the bone pieces in place while they heal.

Fractures can take months to heal. That's because broken bones “knit” back together when new bone is formed between the broken parts.

Most fractures are caused by accidents, such as falls or other injuries. But there are some things you can do to lower your risk of bone fractures. For example:

• Eat a healthy diet that includes vitamin D and calcium to keep bones strong.
• Do weight-bearing exercises to keep bones strong.
• Don't use any form of tobacco. Tobacco and nicotine increase the risk of bone fractures. They weaken bones and interfere with the healing process.
• Talk with your doctor about your risk for osteoporosis, a disease that weakens bones. Get treatment if you have it. Osteoporosis is a common cause of fractures in older adults.

Get medical care anytime you think you may have a broken bone.

Call 911 or get emergency care right away for an open fracture. This means the bone has broken through the skin or there's a deep wound that exposes the bone through the skin.

Call 911 if you injure any bones of the spine. These breaks cause severe back pain and may cause nerve problems, such as numbness, tingling, weakness, and bowel or bladder problems.

• A fracture is a partial or complete break in the bone. There are many different types of fractures.
• Bone fractures are often caused by falls, injuries, or direct hits or kicks to the body. Overuse or repeated motions can cause stress fractures. Diseases that weaken the bones also can lead to fractures.
• Symptoms include sudden pain, swelling, and trouble using or moving the injured area.
• The main goal of treatment is to put the pieces of bone back in place so the bone can heal. This may be done with a splint, cast, surgery, or traction.
• Get medical care anytime you think you may have a broken bone.

Use these tips to help you get the most from a visit to your doctor.

• Know the reason for your visit and what you want to happen.
• Before your visit, write down questions you want answered.
• Bring someone with you to help you ask questions and remember what your doctor tells you.
• At the visit, write down the name of any new diagnosis and any new medicines, treatments, or tests. Also write down any new instructions your doctor gives you.
• Know why a new medicine or treatment is prescribed and how it will help you. Also know what the side effects are.
• Ask if your condition can be treated in other ways.
• Know why a test or procedure is recommended and what the results could mean.
• Know what to expect if you do not take the medicine or have the test or procedure.
• If you have a follow-up appointment, write down the date, time, and purpose for that visit.
• Know how you can contact your doctor if you have questions.