Another name for a butterfly fracture is a butterfly fragment.
A butterfly fracture is a specific type of comminuted fracture characterized by a central, triangular fragment separated from the main bone. This fragment resembles a butterfly's wing. While the term "butterfly fracture" is widely used, the more precise anatomical description is "butterfly fragment" referring specifically to the shape of the fractured bone piece.
- Comminuted Fracture: A fracture where the bone is broken into more than two pieces.
- Butterfly Fragment: The distinct triangular piece of bone seen in certain comminuted fractures.
Essentially, a "butterfly fracture" describes the overall fracture pattern including this triangular fragment, whereas "butterfly fragment" simply refers to the detached piece of bone itself. Both terms are often used interchangeably in clinical practice.
