Definition of Fracture, greenstick

Fracture, greenstick: A fracture in which one side of a bone is broken while the other is bent (like a green stick).

A fracture is a break in the bone or cartilage. It usually is a result of trauma but can be due to an acquired disease of bone such as osteoporosis or abnormal formation of bone in a congenital disease of bone such as osteogenesis imperfecta ("brittle bone disease").

Fractures are classified by their character and location. Examples of classification include "greenstick fracture of the radius," "spiral fracture of the femur," "impacted fracture of the humerus," "linear fracture of the ulna," "oblique fracture of the metatarsal," "compression fracture of the vertebrae," and "depressed fracture of the skull."

Note incidentally that a "comminuted fracture," a fracture in which bone is broken into a number of pieces, is distinguished from a "compound fracture," a fracture in which the bone sticks through the skin.

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