open fracture
Bone pierces skin
An open fracture is a broken bone where the skin has been pierced, either by the bone itself pushing through from inside or by external trauma that exposes the fracture site.
Also called a compound fracture, this injury carries significant risk of infection because the wound creates a pathway for bacteria to reach the bone.
Open fractures require immediate medical attention and typically need surgical cleaning and stabilization.
Pathogen invasion causing illness
- osteomyelitisBacterial infection of skeleton
- sepsisDangerous inflammatory infection response
- tetanusMuscle-stiffening bacterial disease
- gangreneTissue death from bloodlessness
compartment syndrome · nonunion · malunion · chronic wound · hardware failure · nerve damage · scarring · contracture
Removing damaged tissue surgically
- irrigationArtificial water supply for agriculture
- platesFlat eating dishes
- screwsThreaded metal fasteners
- pinsPointed sewing fasteners
rods · reduction · splint · wound closure · skin graft · washout · bone graft · amputation
Recovery from injury/addiction
- physiotherapyTreatment restoring bodily function
- weight-bearingSupporting physical mass
- range of motionJoint's movement capacity
- healingRestoration of health
wound healing · mobility · crutches · walker · cast · brace · follow-up · occupational therapy
Emergency medical transport
- paramedicsEmergency medical technicians
- triageSeverity-based prioritization
- trauma centerCritical injury treatment facility
- ERAcute care department
911 · medevac · airlift · stabilization · shock · tourniquet · blood transfusion · critical
Combined into one
- protrudingExtending outward noticeably
- boneHard skeletal tissue
- splinteredBroken into sharp slivers
- displacedShifted from proper location
shattered · jagged · tibia · fibula · femur · radius · ulna · humerus
Intensity of sternness
- gradingAssigning marks to work
- high-energyMarked by intense activity
- assessmentFormal evaluation of worth
- prognosisPredicted disease course
infection
Pathogen invasion causing illness
- osteomyelitisBacterial infection of skeleton
- sepsisDangerous inflammatory infection response
- tetanusMuscle-stiffening bacterial disease
gangrene · compartment syndrome · nonunion · malunion · chronic wound · hardware failure · nerve damage · scarring · contracture · stiffness
debridement
Removing damaged tissue surgically
- irrigationArtificial water supply for agriculture
- platesFlat eating dishes
- screwsThreaded metal fasteners
pins · rods · reduction · splint · wound closure · skin graft · washout · bone graft · amputation · anesthesia
rehabilitation
Recovery from injury/addiction
- physiotherapyTreatment restoring bodily function
- weight-bearingSupporting physical mass
- range of motionJoint's movement capacity
healing · wound healing · mobility · crutches · walker · cast · brace · follow-up · occupational therapy · pain management
ambulance
Emergency medical transport
- paramedicsEmergency medical technicians
- triageSeverity-based prioritization
- trauma centerCritical injury treatment facility
ER · 911 · medevac · airlift · stabilization · shock · tourniquet · blood transfusion · critical · life-threatening
compound
Combined into one
- protrudingExtending outward noticeably
- boneHard skeletal tissue
- splinteredBroken into sharp slivers
displaced · shattered · jagged · tibia · fibula · femur · radius · ulna · humerus · comminuted
severity
Intensity of sternness
- gradingAssigning marks to work
- high-energyMarked by intense activity
- assessmentFormal evaluation of worth
- injuriesbruise, sprain, concussion, contusion, laceration
- fracture carebone healing, bone break, broken bone, bone graft, bone grafting
- fracturesbroken bone, microfracture, broken arm, broken leg, broken hip
open fractureclosed fracture
Bone break, skin unbroken
simple fracture · hairline fracture · stress fracture · greenstick fracture
open, opens, opened, opening, opener, openers, openness, openly, reopen