A bone fracture is a medical condition where the continuity of any bone in the body breaks partially or completely. In severe cases, the bone shatters into multiple fragments known as a comminuted fracture.
An open fracture occurs when the broken bone pierces through the skin creating an entry point for bacteria and increasing infection risk. This breach exposes the internal marrow to the external environment turning a simple break into a complex medical emergency requiring urgent attention.
This initial woven bone lacks the strength of mature lamellar bone but shows on X-ray within 6 weeks for adults. The healing process begins when injured bone tissue bleeds to form a fracture hematoma between the broken fragments.
The Orthopaedic Trauma Association published its classification system in 1996 adopting similar frameworks from the AO Foundation established earlier. Eponymous names honor physicians who first described specific conditions such as Denis classification for spinal injuries or Gustilo open fracture classification.
Pathologic fractures arise from underlying diseases like osteoporosis which make bones brittle and susceptible to breaking under minimal stress. Smoking significantly increases fracture risk by lowering bone density and delaying the natural healing process.