Student study notes from paramedic coursework (2023 to 2024), not medical advice. Verify clinical values against current references and your local protocols.
| EMS etiologies | Setting: ER |
A bone fracture is a medical condition where a bone is partially or completely broken. In severe cases, the bone may be broken into multiple pieces, known as a comminuted fracture. Fractures can result from high-force impacts or stress, or they can occur from minimal trauma in individuals with underlying medical conditions that weaken the bones, such as osteoporosis, bone cancer, or osteogenesis imperfecta. In such cases, the fracture is termed a pathologic fracture.
In cases of severe fractures, damage to surrounding tissues (nerves, muscles, blood vessels) may occur, potentially causing additional symptoms like nerve damage or impaired circulation. Fractures can affect adjacent structures, such as the spinal cord (in spine fractures) or cranial contents (in skull fractures), leading to more complex symptoms.