Fracture: interruption of the continuity of part of the skeletal system (=broken bone) Luxation: dislocation, interruption of the normal interrelation between the components of a joint.
When asked to confirm a fracture, the area in question is always imaged in (at least) 2 different directions. A fracture is generally visible in one direction only. Therefore, never settle for an image in only one direction. If bone fragments are displaced as a result of a fracture, the X-ray beam will not be absorbed by the bone at the fracture site (= the gap)(fig. 1a). This is visible as a lucent line (= black line). Bone fragments may also be compressed (= impacted fracture), causing overlap of bone structures (fig. 1b). In this case there will be increased X-ray absorption at the fracture site, resulting in increased density (= whiter).
Click to see overlay
Figure 1. Fracture gap in a proximal humerus fracture (a) and impacted distal radius fracture (b).
We, and third parties, use cookies on our website. We use cookies to keep statistics (Google Analytics cookies are completely anonymised), to store preferences, but also for marketing purposes. By clicking on 'set it yourself', you can read more about our cookies and adjust your preferences. By clicking 'Accept and continue' you agree to the use of all cookies as described in our cookie statement.
We, and third parties, use cookies on our website. We use cookies to keep statistics (Google Analytics cookies are completely anonymised), to store preferences, but also for marketing purposes.
Necessary cookies are absolutely necessary for the website to function properly. These cookies provide basic functionalities and security features of the website anonymously.
Cookie
Duration
Description
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics
1 year
Set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin, this cookie is used to record the user consent for the cookies in the "Analytics" category .
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary
1 year
Set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin, this cookie is used to record the user consent for the cookies in the "Necessary" category .
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others
1 year
Set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin, this cookie is used to store the user consent for cookies in the category "Others".
CookieLawInfoConsent
1 year
Records the default button state of the corresponding category & the status of CCPA. It works only in coordination with the primary cookie.
elementor
never
This cookie is used by the website's WordPress theme. It allows the website owner to implement or change the website's content in real-time.
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information about statistics, number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Cookie
Duration
Description
_ga
2 years
The _ga cookie, installed by Google Analytics, calculates visitor, session and campaign data and also keeps track of site usage for the site's analytics report. The cookie stores information anonymously and assigns a randomly generated number to recognize unique visitors.
_gat_gtag_UA_48509342_1
1 minute
Set by Google to distinguish users.
_gat_gtag_UA_48509342_2
1 minute
Set by Google to distinguish users.
_gid
1 day
Installed by Google Analytics, _gid cookie stores information on how visitors use a website, while also creating an analytics report of the website's performance. Some of the data that are collected include the number of visitors, their source, and the pages they visit anonymously.
Login
Accessing this course requires a login. Please enter your credentials below!