What is a Spiral Fracture?
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A spiral fracture is a type of bone fracture which is caused by a twisting force. You may also hear spiral fractures referred to as torsion fractures, in a reference to the forces involved to create a spiral fracture. Because the break is helical, it can be difficult to treat a spiral fracture, involving months in a cast and possible surgery, depending on the location of the break, the general health of the individual, and the specific circumstances involved in a fracture.
A classic example of a spiral fracture is a fracture incurred while skiing. Because skiers lock their feet into the skis in sturdy ski boots, if a ski breaks or the skier loses control and the ski rotates, the leg may be violently twisted in one direction, creating a textbook spiral fracture. As anyone who has broken a leg skiing knows, this type of spiral fracture can be extraordinarily painful, and it typically quashes any skiing activity for several months, at least.
To diagnose a spiral fracture, a doctor will take x-rays of the site and examine them. The x-rays will confirm that the issue is a fracture, and a close examination of the x-ray will provide information about what kind of fracture is involved. Depending on the situation, the doctor may recommend surgery to pin the fracture, ensuring proper healing in the event of a severe break, or the limb may simply be set in a cast to hold it still while the fracture heals.
You don't need much torsion to create a spiral fracture, especially in the case of people with fragile bones due to age or poor diet. In the event that you do not have immediate access to medical care, as might be the case when you are camping, you should immobilize any suspected fracture with a splint to keep the patient comfortable while you transport him or her to a hospital.
The spiral fracture has become famous as a warning sign of abuse, especially in children, because the twisting motion necessary could be caused by something such as a parent or guardian grabbing and twisting the arm or leg of a child. When doctors see spiral fractures in children, it may set off warning bells; in the event that you take your child to the hospital for a broken bone and it is diagnosed as a spiral fracture, do not be offended if the doctor asks some searching questions. These questions are asked out of concern and to confirm the cause of the fracture, because the doctor wants to make sure that your child is safe.
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15
There is nothing you can do because no matter what you do they will not believe you. you and your family and god himself knows what happend and that's what matters. i am going though the same thing. my son rolled over on his arm and he is seven months and we took him to the hospital and they told me he had a fracture, and now i am going though a bunch of crap. these people don't care about you or your families. they are home wreckers. all you can do is fight and pray. you will win if you stick to it. don't give up or give in. that's what they want. Take it from me -- i know. i will pray for everybody that's going though the same thing. god bless all of you. take care of you and yours. - anon49550
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My 20 month old was taking a nap when we had heard him cry. we went in his room and he was lying in front of the window on a bunch of toys crying and having trouble walking. i immediately took him to the hospital and they said he had a spiral fracture of the femur bone. we asked him what he did and he said he fell from the window. Children's Protective Services were called immediately and my children were taken and i was just wondering how common it was for children at that age to break a bone like that. - anon47990
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My 13 month old son and I were sliding down a spiral slide at the park, his legs got free from between mine,(he has to do everything on his own) and the traction on his shoe caught the side of the slide and twisted his leg the wrong way. He has a spiral fracture on his right leg. Take off the kids' shoes before sliding down a spiral slide. - anon46537
12
Same thing happened to my grandson over five months ago. His father fell asleep with little man(two months old)on top and when realized he was falling of the bed his father grabbed him by the leg causing a fracture. My daughter worked for the pediatrician and was at work when this happened. Her husband called her and the doctor examined the baby gave him tylenol and said to watch. next day it was to the emergency room his leg was swollen and red almost looked like a bug bite. DCF and CPS was called and he was removed from their care. However, when we took him to a specialist at the children's hospital we were told this could have happened the way the father claimed it did. There is no background of abuse anywhere in both families. I for one feel the government has way too much control over parents rights and DCF and CPS are only ways to make money. even though i feel there is true abuse out there that needs to be taken seriously. for those that are falsely accused and have lost custody are left feeling helpless. In my daughter's case they both have done what the courts ordered them to do and are due for the reunification court in three weeks, and even though she was allowed unsupervised visits. the father was jailed for three weeks and lost all visitation rights and there still do this day is no "true" evidence of any sort that baby was intentionally abused. The system is corrupt and we plan on filing suit in the near future! - anon43628
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My granddaughter fell of her bed when she was 10 months old and she seemed fine but I got her checked out at hospital. The doctor said she was fine, did not x ray her. Eight weeks later after coming back from the child minder she awoke from her car seat and seemed in intense pain. We took her to hospital and told she had two fractures done at different times. Was told non-accidental as one was spiral fracture. Child minder said that 2 and half year old son jumped on her leg while on bed. My baby is having to stay with grandmother and we can only see our little girl who is now 13 months old 4 times a day with a chaperone. We love our daughter dearly and would never do any harm to her. We may lose her and don't know what to do. - anon41402
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my 16 year-old son was playing around on a makeshift slip and slide and caught his middle finger on a seam. The doctor says he has a spiral fracture of the middle metacarpal in his hand. So, it can happen to anyone if the circumstances are right. - anon40917
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My 5 month old baby girl had a spiral fracture in her left arm from falling. Her dad tried to catch her and twisted her arm we thought he pulled her arm out of the socket.We both had to take lie decector test and we now are waiting for results. We love our daughter very much. we would never hurt our child but they said one of us will go to jail. - anon38210
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my 3 year old son was jumping on the sofa next to my 1 month old son. my baby suffered a spiral fracfure in his leg. they try and tell you only an adult can cause a spiral fracture to a child because of the force needed to create that type of fracture. even in a babies bones. what can you do.
- anon38059
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It is possible for a child to get a spiral fracture from a fall. My grandson jumped from a coffee table at home and got a spiral fracture. - anon37325
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I was going down my friends front steps after a rain and I had my 1 year old daughter on my right hip. My feet slipped from under me and we went down hard. Needless to say, she had a spiral frature in her left tibia. No abuse here just a bad accident. maremoore2009 - anon36116
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my one and a half month old son was nursing when i fell asleep. he had rolled off me onto the bed which woke me and he immediately started crying. i took him to the doctors and as a first time mother i was freaking out..turns out he has a spiral fracture on his left arm. i know for a fact nothing else was done to cause this so falling off a bed could completely cause these injuries if falling off me onto a bed could..accidents happen and in the case of doctors your damned if you do take them. damned if you don't. - anon34279
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My 1 month old grandson also had a spiral fracture when his dad tried to put a sleeper on him that was to small and he accidentally twisted his leg. Of course he is being accused of abuse although it was done unintentionally. - anon32161
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We have a 4 and a half month old grandson who had a small accident at home - he was on the parents bed and whilst the dad was getting some baby clothes from his nursery, he managed to shuffle and fell off the side of the bed.As a precaution he was taken to A&E which found that he had fractures in both legs. Further medical opinion then stated that these were *spiral* Fractures, and that it was impossible for these to occur from a baby falling from a low bed onto a soft carpet. What I would like to know is, has anyone else experienced this sort of thing, and does anyone know if it is possible to get a spiral fracture from such a mishap? Any comments would be very gratefully received. Many thanks, Tim S - timseaton
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Is it possible for a child to receive a spiral fracture from a fall? For example: if the child falls from a car seat and rolls before the parent can catch them. - pritiblueyes
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Is it possible for a child to receive a spiral fracture from a fall? For example: if the child falls from a car seat and rolls before the parent can catch them. - anon18269
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Written by
S.E. Smith
Last Modified: 21 October 2009
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