Definition

Noun: A type of bone fracture where one fragment of the broken bone is forcibly driven into the other fragment. This results in the bone ends being compressed or wedged together.

Usage

This is a specific medical term used to describe the nature and appearance of a bone break, typically seen in diagnostic imaging like X-rays. It describes the physical interlocking of the broken pieces.

Examples

• The X-ray revealed an impacted fracture of the femoral neck.
• Impacted fractures often occur in falls where the force drives one bone into another.
• Due to the nature of the impacted fracture, the bone fragments were relatively stable.

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used in radiology reports and orthopedic assessments to guide treatment. While the fragments are jammed together, which can provide some initial stability, surgical intervention may still be required.

Variants and Related Words

• Fracture (n): The general term for a broken bone.
• Comminuted fracture (n): A fracture where the bone is shattered into multiple pieces.
• Greenstick fracture (n): An incomplete fracture common in children.
• Impacted (adj): The past participle of 'impact,' used here in a medical context to mean "wedged or driven in."

Synonyms

• Telescoped fracture: A less common synonym emphasizing one fragment being driven into the other.
• Compression fracture: A related but distinct term often used for fractures of vertebral bodies caused by compressive forces.

Notes

An impacted fracture is distinct from other types like simple or compound fractures, which describe whether the skin is broken. Impact refers specifically to the relationship between the broken bone ends. It is not typically used in idiomatic or phrasal verb constructions.

Noun

1. fracture in which one broken end is wedged into the other broken end