Difference Between a Fracture and a Break

Fracture vs Break

Bones support, move, and protect various organs of the body. They also produce blood cells and store minerals in the body. There are 206 bones in the human body, and it is made up of different tissues. They have many functions such as:

Mechanical: Protection of internal organs, provide shape to support the body, and biomechanics.

Synthetic: Blood production through the process of hematopoiesis.

Metabolic: Stores fatty acids, minerals such as calcium and phosphorous, and insulin-like growth factors. Releases alkaline salt for acid-base balance and for detoxification of the body. Act as an endocrine organ by reducing phosphates on the kidneys, regulating blood sugar, and fat deposition.

Bones are essential to help the body function properly and although they are for protection of the body’s internal organs, they can also be damaged by excess pressure and many other causes.

When extreme pressure is applied to the bones, a fracture may result. It is very common, and everyone has suffered from a fracture at one point in their lives. It happens more often in adults than in children because adult bones are more brittle and break easily.

A fracture is a medical condition wherein there is a break in the continuity of the bone. It can be caused by stress, or an impact on the bones, or by medical conditions such as cancer and osteoporosis.

A break is defined as “to crack or suddenly separate into pieces”. It is the same as a fracture. In fact, both terms are used in describing bone injuries. They differ in the severity of damage. While a fracture is minor, a break can be worse.

A fracture also takes a shorter time to heal than a break and it is less painful. Broken bones need to be reset and enclosed in a cast. More force is applied to break a bone than to fracture it.

There are several types of bone fractures or breaks:

* Open – when the broken bone is exposed which has an increased chance of infection.
* Closed – when the bone is broken but the skin is not cut.
* Simple – wherein the bone is split in two pieces.
* Multi-fragmentary – wherein the bone is split into several pieces.
* Compression – is a closed fracture or a break with two or more bones forced against each other and usually happens in the spine.
* Avulsion – is common to athletes.
* Impacted – is common in fractures and breaks caused by car accidents and falls.
* Stress – happens due to an overuse injury.
* Rib – manifests painful and shallow breathing.
* Complete – wherein the bones separate completely.
* Incomplete – wherein the bones are still partially joined.
* Linear
* Transverse
* Oblique
* Spiral
* Comminuted
* Compacted

Summary:

1. A fracture is a medical condition wherein there is a break in the continuity of the bone while a break is the crack or separation of bones into pieces.
2. A fracture takes little time to heal while a break takes longer.
3. A fracture can be less painful than a break.

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