fracture

any break in a BONE , which may be complete or incomplete. In a simple fracture (also called a closed fracture), the skin remains more or less intact, but in a compound fracture (or open fracture) there is an open wound connecting the bone with the surface. This type of fracture is more serious as it provides a greater risk of infection and more blood loss. If a bone that is already diseased suffers a fracture (such as often occurs in older women who have OSTEOPOROSIS ), this is known as a pathological fracture. A fatigue fracture occurs in a bone that suffers recurrent, persistent stress, e.g. the march fracture sometimes seen in the second toe of soldiers after long marches. A greenstick fracture occurs only in young children, whose bones are still soft and tend to bend. The fracture occurs on the opposite side from the causal force. A complicated fracture involves damage to surrounding soft tissue, including nerves and blood vessels. A depressed fracture refers only to the SKULL when a piece of bone is forced inwards and may damage the brain. See also COMMINUTED FRACTURE .