compression fracture
Definition
- Noun:
- A type of bone fracture where the bone collapses or is compressed: A compression fracture specifically refers to a break in a bone, most commonly in the vertebrae of the spine, where the bone tissue is crushed or collapses, often due to weakening from conditions like osteoporosis.
Examples of Usage
- Noun:
- The patient was diagnosed with a vertebral compression fracture after the fall.
- Osteoporosis is a leading cause of compression fractures in the elderly.
Advanced Usage
- Medical Context: The term is almost exclusively used in medical and clinical contexts to describe a specific fracture morphology, often seen in imaging reports or diagnoses.
- The MRI confirmed a T12 compression fracture.
Variants and Related Words
- Fracture (n): The general term for a broken bone.
- Vertebral compression fracture (VCF) (n): A more specific term for a compression fracture occurring in the spine.
Synonyms
- Crush fracture: A synonym sometimes used, emphasizing the crushing force.
- Collapsed vertebra: A descriptive term for the result of a spinal compression fracture.
Related Phrases
- Sustain a compression fracture: To experience or suffer this type of injury.
- He sustained a compression fracture while lifting heavy weights incorrectly.
Noun
-
fracture in which the bone collapses (especially in short bones such as vertebrae)
