{"id":10187,"date":"2019-09-05T11:46:52","date_gmt":"2019-09-05T11:46:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/?p=10187"},"modified":"2021-06-28T14:03:59","modified_gmt":"2021-06-28T14:03:59","slug":"15-common-causes-of-comminuted-fracture","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/15-common-causes-of-comminuted-fracture\/","title":{"rendered":"15 Common Causes of Comminuted Fracture"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Most of us are familiar with the concept of a broken bone. This occurs whenever a bone is subject to enough force, stress, or impact in order to break. That break can, in turn, be either a full break that actually snaps the bone in half, or just a slight fracture. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even within these two broad categories, there are many other types of fracture defined by the shape of break, the severity, and the cause.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One slightly lesser-known type of fracture, for instance, is the \u201ccomminuted fracture.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A comminuted fracture is essentially a break or a splinter of the bone into more than two fractures. In other words, rather than breaking across the middle of a long bone, the bone might be crushed into lots of smaller parts, or it might be broken cleanly across two separate lines. Either way, this creates new challenges for doctors and surgeons, and potentially introduces additional symptoms and complications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Comminuted fractures can therefore also <\/em>be defined as other types of fracture. They might also be compound fractures for instance, or compression fractures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this post, we will explore the different causes of comminuted fracture, and how such severe damage can occur.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Fall<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Falling is a very common cause of any kind of fracture<\/a> and this can even be as simple as a trip. What many of us don\u2019t realize is how potentially dangerous a fall can be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You might be surprised to learn that simply tripping on a flat surface such as a pavement or tiles can be enough to cause serious injury that might even prove life threatening. Many things can make a fall more serious. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, landing awkwardly from even a small height can cause bones to bend in the wrong direction and snap. One of the most common causes of a comminuted fracture is raising your arms in front of you to prevent hurting your face, only to then bend your arms in the wrong direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another issue is that you might hit yourself on something else such as a wall, a cupboard etc. on the way to the ground. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All these issues can be further compounded should you fall from a height, or on an uneven surface. For example, falling downstairs can commonly cause a number of very severe injuries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2. Impact<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The impact is a category that can cover a broad range of different scenarios and types. For example, impact might be the result of falling, if you should hit your head or torso on a wall or furniture, or if your face or limbs should hit the ground hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, impact can also include things like projectiles. If something is thrown at you, or if something should fall on you, then this can cause an impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Likewise, if you are attacked, then you might experience an impact due to striking force against your body. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Car accidents <\/a>can also commonly cause heavy impacts. This can be the result of something coming through the windshield or through the doors, or it can be the result of your head or face striking against a steering wheel or the dashboard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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3. Old Age<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Old age is not a direct cause for comminuted fractures but can be a heavy risk factor. As we get older, fractures of all kinds become more likely. This is due to a loss of balance <\/a>which can occur as we age and lose the sharpness of our senses. Likewise, it can be the result of more brittle bones associated with aging, or reduced muscle tone and strength.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not everyone will experience these issues as they age, but many people will. For these reasons, you may wish to consider making lifestyle changes to prevent falls and fractures. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some recommendations shared in the book \u201cWhy We Sleep\u201d include keeping a motion-sensor light in the halls and another light within easy reach of the bed. Make sure the floor is clear, install hand-rails if necessary, and don\u2019t rush.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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4. Crushing<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Being crushed can also cause comminuted fractures. Here, large amounts of force and stress are placed on the bones<\/a>. This can either crush the bone from either side, or it can cause the bone to break or twist where the pressure isn\u2019t evenly distributed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Actually, a crushing fracture is a separate \u201ctype\u201d of fracture in its own right, known as a compression fraction. However, if this crushing should cause mass splintering, or if it should bend the long bones in multiple places, then it can result in a comminuted fracture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Common causes of crushing pressure include grappling in fights and in sports, as well as car accidents, or even being crushed by heavy machinery and objects. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5. Illness<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A number of different illnesses can make bones more brittle. This not only makes them more likely to break but also means that those breaks are likely to be more severe, increasing the likelihood of a comminuted fracture where the break occurs in multiple locations simultaneously.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One example is osteoporosis<\/a>. This causes the bones to become much more brittle and makes fractures far more common. People with osteoporosis need to be vigilant to avoid injury and to be extra careful when engaging in potentially risky activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another common example is bone cancer. Here, the cells have been damaged resulting in faulty DNA within the bone cells. That, in turn, means that the bones are not built or repaired correctly, which can then lead to them being weaker. Should you fall, they are much more likely to break.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other illnesses that contribute to comminuted fractures include brittle bone syndrome, infection, tumor, steroid use, osteogenesis imperfecta, and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6. Twisting<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Twisting can also cause breaks and is in many cases more likely to result in multiple breaks in a single bone<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When we think of a twist, we often think of a twisted ankle \u2013 which is a common issue that results in tearing or spraining of the tendons or ligaments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, if the twisting should continue, then the bone may be placed under enough stress to break along that spiral line. This can at the same time cause <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Getting your ankle trapped can cause this, as can grappling, or being crushed in a scrum. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7. Loss of Balance<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Loss of balance is a common contributing factor that leads to fracture. When we lose our balance, we are of course more likely to fall, which in turn means that any kind of fracture is more likely to occur.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Loss of balance can have causes itself in some cases. Low blood pressure, for example, can cause a person to feel dizzy or to pass out. Many people struggle with sleep inertia \u2013 feeling extra dizzy when they first wake up in the morning. Finally, you might be more likely to lose your balance if any of your senses are impaired, or if you are suffering from an infection<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Balance can be improved with training. By practicing standing on one leg and focussing on your body, you can improve your \u201cproprioception\u201d as well as your ability to listen to the feedback from your inner ear, and from your eyes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8. Sports<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Sports are commonly responsible for broken bones of all kinds, including some of the more severe kinds of breaks such as comminuted fractures<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Contact sports for example make a serious break particularly common. Examples include ice hockey, America football, and rugby. In all cases, players are encouraged to tackle, ram, and push each other \u2013 which can lead to impacts, falls, crushing and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fighting sports are of course also very likely to result in this kind of injury. Sports like boxing, MMA, and martial arts involve direct impacts to the face and limbs, which can cause breaks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, sports such as ice skating, gymnastics, and even rock climbing all increase the likelihood that a person might fall from a height, or while moving quickly. This introduces more different types of force and makes it more likely that the limbs will be in awkward and unusual positions \u2013 making comminuted fracture likely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the same time though, non-impact sports such a soccer can also lead to fracture when things go wrong. Someone falling on someone else, a bad tackle, or a bad fall can all lead to serious injury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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