Definition

1. Noun:
   • A type of bone fracture: A comminuted fracture is a severe break where the bone is shattered into multiple pieces or fragments. The bone is not simply cracked or broken into two parts but is splintered, crushed, or pulverized at the site of the injury.

Usage

• This term is used specifically in medical contexts, such as in emergency medicine, orthopedics, radiology, and patient diagnoses.
• It describes the physical state of the bone after a high-impact trauma, such as from a serious fall, car accident, or gunshot wound.
• It is a technical descriptor for the pattern of the fracture, which is important for determining treatment.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The X-ray revealed a comminuted fracture of the femur, requiring surgical intervention.
  • High-velocity impacts often result in comminuted fractures rather than clean breaks.
  • Treating a comminuted fracture is complex because the bone fragments must be carefully realigned.

Advanced Usage

• "Comminuted intra-articular fracture": This specifies that the shattered bone extends into a joint surface, which complicates treatment and recovery.
  • The patient suffered a comminuted intra-articular fracture of the distal radius.

Variants and Related Words

• Comminution (n): The process or result of being comminuted; the state of being broken into small fragments.
  • The degree of comminution was evident on the CT scan.
• Fracture (n): The general term for a broken bone.
• Simple fracture: A break where the bone is broken cleanly without puncturing the skin.
• Compound fracture: A break where the bone pierces the skin.

Synonyms

• Shattered fracture: (Informal) Emphasizes the bone being broken into many pieces.
• Multifragmentary fracture: A more clinical synonym describing multiple bone fragments.

Related Phrases

• "to sustain a comminuted fracture": To suffer this specific type of bone break.
  • He sustained a comminuted fracture of his tibia in the collision.

Noun

1. fracture in which the bone is splintered or crushed