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What is a Transverse Fracture?

Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Many different types of fractures or broken bones can occur. One of these is a transverse fracture, which means that the bone is completely broken in a manner that is perpendicular to the way the bone runs. To understand this, a person can stretch out the arm and consider the two main bones in the forearm. A hand on its side across, rather than up and down, the forearm can be used to indicate an imagined bone break; essentially, the break crosses the bone completely, and the bone is separated into two pieces.

Often, a transverse fracture results from a direct blow, but it can also sometimes occur when people do things repetitively, like running. When the fracture occurs, the bone may or may not line up completely. The action of the injury can cause the bone to separate, so that part of it is misaligned and needs to be reducted or re-placed together.

With a transverse fracture, the break is perpendicular to the way the bone runs.
With a transverse fracture, the break is perpendicular to the way the bone runs.

Treatment could involve either an open or closed reduction before the area is given a cast, when this is possible. In the open reduction, a medical professional must surgically put the bone back together, and they may employ things like metal pins, plates, or screws so that the bone will stay in place and heal completely. The closed reduction may still require anesthesia because it can be very painful to correctly replace the bone from an exterior and non-surgical position.

Repetitive actions, such as running, may cause a transverse fracture.
Repetitive actions, such as running, may cause a transverse fracture.

Typically, casting is required whether or not reduction occurs because a full break across the bone can take a long time to heal. The amount of time the break takes to heal may vary, but it's not uncommon for some transverse fractures to require several months of recuperation before the bone is able to completely knit itself back together.

When the fracture is closed, and the bones have not broken the skin, it may be difficult to tell the nature and severity of the break. It can be an extremely risky situation that involves not only bone but nerve damage. An X-ray is usually the main diagnostic tool to assess damage, and this may be followed by reduction of surgical or non-surgical type, depending on the extent of the injury.

Metal pins, plates and screws may be used during an open reduction to fix a transverse fracture.
Metal pins, plates and screws may be used during an open reduction to fix a transverse fracture.

One thing that might keep many of these fractures relatively in place is when they only involve injury of a single bone. In the forearm, for instance, there are two bones, the ulna and radius. If only one of these bones suffers a transverse fracture, the other, whole bone may provide stability so that the fracture stays closed. On the other hand, if both bones break, which is called a compound fracture, there is much greatly likelihood of the bones piercing the skin due to total lack of bone stability in the arm, but it really depends on the injury.

Transverse fractures and other types of broken bones require immediate medical attention.
Transverse fractures and other types of broken bones require immediate medical attention.

This type of fracture is a very serious break in the bone. It is likely to be quite painful, especially before the victim receives medical help. Any form of fracture requires immediate medical attention, which will provide the best opportunity for setting the bone if needed.

Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Tricia has a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and has been a frequent TheHealthBoard contributor for many years. She is especially passionate about reading and writing, although her other interests include medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion. Tricia lives in Northern California and is currently working on her first novel.

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Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Tricia has a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and has been a frequent TheHealthBoard contributor for many years. She is especially passionate about reading and writing, although her other interests include medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion. Tricia lives in Northern California and is currently working on her first novel.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

aaaCookie

There are many supplements on the market that claim to help bone health and fracture symptoms, saying they might even speed repair of a broken bone. While I don't trust these, it can be true that trying to increase your consumption of calcium, iron, Vitamins C and D, and other nutrients can help you recover, or at least feel less pain, more quickly.

Denha

I have known several people who got transverse wrist fractures, and these can be especially painful because they affect the use of the entire hand and arm. It's important in this case to keep a cast on as long as you are supposed to, and avoid doing things that might re-break it, which can be easier than people think.

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    • With a transverse fracture, the break is perpendicular to the way the bone runs.
      By: stockdevil
      With a transverse fracture, the break is perpendicular to the way the bone runs.
    • Repetitive actions, such as running, may cause a transverse fracture.
      By: Maridav
      Repetitive actions, such as running, may cause a transverse fracture.
    • Metal pins, plates and screws may be used during an open reduction to fix a transverse fracture.
      By: stockdevil
      Metal pins, plates and screws may be used during an open reduction to fix a transverse fracture.
    • Transverse fractures and other types of broken bones require immediate medical attention.
      By: Photographee.eu
      Transverse fractures and other types of broken bones require immediate medical attention.
    • Casts are typically used to treat transverse fractures.
      By: kameel
      Casts are typically used to treat transverse fractures.
    • A sling may be used to immobilize the affected body part so that the fractured bone can heal.
      By: leschnyhan
      A sling may be used to immobilize the affected body part so that the fractured bone can heal.