Fracture Displacement Patterns and Fracture Description

This article explains Fracture Displacement Patterns and Fracture Description. Understanding these patterns and how to describe them is crucial for accurate diagnosis, treatment planning, and collaboration among healthcare professionals.

Displaced Fracture Definition

Displaced Fracture: A displaced fracture occurs when bone fragments are not in their normal anatomical position.

This is caused by:

The force applied to the bone
Muscle action on the fractured fragments
Gravity

Fracture Description

Important to learn how to describe fractures so you can communicate your findings with other team members and seniors.

First, mention the shape of the fracture: transverse, spiral, oblique, comminuted, segmental.

Then mention the fracture location: describe it according to the location on the bone (long bone: head, neck, shaft, condyle OR epiphysis, metaphysis, diaphysis).

Examples: fracture in the distal metaphysis of the femur OR fracture in the inferior third of the shaft of the femur.

Finally, mention displacement: describe the displacement of the distal fragment in relation to the proximal fragment.

We have four patterns of displacement: translation (shift), angulation (tilt), rotation, shortening vs lengthening.

Also mention the direction of displacement: anterior, posterior, medial, lateral. If not displaced, say "without displacement".

Fracture Displacement Patterns

Translation (Shift): Shift of fragments sideways, backward, or forward.
Description of the Example: Transverse fracture in the midshaft of the tibia with lateral translation of the distal fragment.
Angulation (Tilt): Bone fragments are tilted in relation to each other, with an angle less or more than normal.
Description of the Example: Transverse midshaft tibial fracture with medial angulation of the distal fragment OR midshaft tibial fracture with the apex pointing laterally.
Rotation: Fragment rotates around its longitudinal axis in relation to the other fragment.
Description of the Example: Transverse midshaft tibial fracture with rotation of the distal fragment.
Shortening: Overlapping of fragments due to muscle pull.
Description of the Example: Transverse midshaft tibial fracture with bone shortening due to overlapping of fragments.
Lengthening: Bone fragments move further away from each other.
Description of the Example: Transverse midshaft tibial fracture with bone lengthening.