Bone fracture

A bone fracture is a break or crack in bone tissue caused by acute force, disease, or repeated stress. It ranges from a fine crack to a complete break with displaced fragments.

Bone remodeling: The ongoing process by which bone tissue is resorbed and replaced. Remodeling supplies the cellular machinery that repairs a fracture and reshapes healed bone.
Bone tissue: A mineralized connective tissue that supports the body, protects organs, and stores minerals. Its material properties determine how bone responds when force is applied.
Radiography: Medical imaging that uses X-rays to create pictures of structures inside the body. X-ray images are a common first test for locating and characterizing a suspected fracture.
Osteoporosis: A skeletal disorder in which reduced bone strength raises the risk of fractures. It can make ordinary forces sufficient to break bone.
Compartment syndrome: A dangerous rise in pressure within a closed muscle compartment that compromises circulation and tissue function. Swelling after a fracture can raise pressure enough to threaten muscle and nerve tissue.
Fracture healing: The biological process that restores continuity and strength after a broken bone. It explains how a fracture bridges, hardens, and regains function.
Cortical bone: The dense outer layer of bone that provides much of its stiffness and strength. Its compact structure influences how a fracture starts and propagates.
Computed tomography: An imaging method that combines X-ray measurements to create cross-sectional and three-dimensional views. CT can clarify complex fractures that are difficult to assess on plain radiographs.
Pathologic fracture: A fracture occurring in bone weakened by disease, such as cancer or osteoporosis. It distinguishes breaks caused by weakened bone from those in otherwise healthy bone.
Fat embolism syndrome: A rare systemic illness involving respiratory, neurological, and skin changes after fat enters the circulation. It can follow major fractures, especially of long bones.

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