Fracture
A fracture is a break in a bone, ranging from a fine crack to a complete break with displacement.
When to get help quickly: Prompt assessment is important for severe pain, deformity, inability to use the limb, suspected spine or hip fracture, or any fracture after major trauma.
Common symptoms
Symptoms often include sudden pain, swelling, bruising, tenderness, deformity, and difficulty moving or putting weight on the injured area.
When imaging helps
Imaging helps confirm whether a bone is broken, whether the fracture is simple or complex, and whether nearby joints or soft tissues are involved.
What radiology does
X-rays are usually the first imaging test, while CT or MRI may help when the fracture is complex or hard to see.
What usually happens next
Treatment may include splinting, casting, surgery, rehabilitation, or simply time depending on the bone and fracture type.
Seen this on your report?
Your doctor or the radiologist who wrote it can tell you what it means for you.
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Related scan guides
- Spine X-RayA spine X-ray is a scan that uses a small amount of radiation to show the bones and alignment of your neck, upper back, lower back, or tailbone. It is often requested for pain, injury, posture changes, arthritis, or scoliosis.
- Vertebroplasty and KyphoplastyVertebroplasty and Kyphoplasty act as an internal cast for collapsed spinal bones — injecting medical-grade cement into fractured vertebrae to quickly stabilize the break and relieve severe back pain.
- DEXA After a FractureA broken bone from a minor fall after age 50 is a fragility fracture — a loud signal that bone strength is below normal. A DEXA scan after such a fracture is one of the most important investigations to prevent the next one.