A bone injury that results in more than 2 separate bone components is known as a comminuted fracture. Some comminuted fractures have specific names such as 'butterfly fragment' or 'segmental fracture'.
Introduction to Trauma X-ray
Comminuted fractures
Key points
- Fractures resulting in multiple fragments are called comminuted fractures
Comminuted fracture example - Humerus
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Comminuted fracture example - Humerus
- Proximal humeral shaft fracture with bone shattering due to high force injury
Butterfly fragment example - Metacarpal
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Butterfly fragment example - Metacarpal
- Comminuted fracture resulting from 2 oblique fractures forming a 'butterfly fragment' (shape of a butterfly wing)
Segmental fracture example - Tibia and fibula
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Segmental fracture example - Tibia and fibula
- Segments of bone have separated from both the proximal and distal portions of the tibial and fibular shafts