An impact fracture, also known as an impacted fracture, occurs when the broken ends of a bone are forcefully driven into each other, essentially jamming them together at the fracture site.
Understanding Impact Fractures
Impact fractures differ from other types of fractures, such as comminuted fractures where the bone shatters into multiple pieces. In an impact fracture, the bone fragments compress together.
Key Characteristics
Here's a breakdown of the key characteristics of impact fractures:
- Compression: The primary feature is the compression of bone fragments at the fracture site.
- Forceful Injury: These fractures typically result from a significant force driving the broken ends together.
- Stability: Impacted fractures can sometimes be relatively stable compared to other fracture types, as the jammed fragments provide some inherent support.
Example
Imagine a fall where someone lands directly on their outstretched arm. The force of the impact could drive the end of the humerus (upper arm bone) into the bones of the wrist, resulting in an impacted fracture.
