Comminuted fracture

Comminuted fractures are fractures where the bone shatters into three or more pieces. Comminuted fractures include a very heterogeneous group of fractures from a 3 part humeral head fracture to a multi-part fracture of the femur following a high-energy road traffic accident. Closed, mildly comminuted fractures can be treated with a plate in buttress function, if the main fragments allow insertion of a sufficient number of screws. Internal fixators can also be used as buttress implants, and have the advantage of preserving cortical blood supply and requiring only two screws per fragment (Figure 1).

Figure 1. Comminuted fracture

Comminuted fracture causes

It takes a lot of force for someone to get a comminuted fracture. A car accident or serious fall, for instance, can cause this type of break.

Comminuted fracture treatment

Someone with a comminuted fracture will probably need surgery. After surgery, the person will wear a splint or cast for a while to keep the bone from moving while it heals.