Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsAffected Body PartsCausesTreatmentSeverityHealing Timeline
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Affected Body Parts
Causes
Treatment
Severity
Healing Timeline
A spiral fracture is a broken bone pattern that wraps around the bone. This type of fracture results from a twisting force on the bone during an injury.Spiral fractures typically affectlong bones(those that are longer than they are wide) found in your arms, legs, hands, and feet. These injuries range in severity and require varying treatments and healing time.
This article discusses spiral fractures—affected bone parts, causes of injury, treatment options, and healing time frames.
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Pictures of Different Types of Fractures
Spiral Fracture Bones and Affected Body Parts
Spiral fractures affect the long bones in the body, found in the arms and legs. The way we use our arms and legs—for daily tasks like gripping and walking—puts our long bones at a greater risk for spiral fractures from twisting injuries.
Examples include:
As with any broken bone, spiral fractures range in severity. Fractures can be:
Spiral vs. Spinal FracturesWhile spiral fractures and spinal fractures sound similar, they are very different.Spiralfractures affect long bones in the body—found in the arms and legs—whilespinalfractures affect the vertebrae (stacked bones that make up the spine).
Spiral vs. Spinal Fractures
While spiral fractures and spinal fractures sound similar, they are very different.Spiralfractures affect long bones in the body—found in the arms and legs—whilespinalfractures affect the vertebrae (stacked bones that make up the spine).
Causes: Why Spiral Fractures Happen
Spiral fractures most commonly occur from high-energy impact and rotational forces on the bone, such as during sports activities, motor vehicle accidents, workplace accidents, or as a result of a fall.
Spiral fractures often occur when one end of the bone is fixed while the other keeps moving, placing a twisting force on the bone. In the lower extremity, most spiral fractures happen when the foot is planted, but the body continues to move.
Young children often experience accidental spiral fractures in the lower leg after falling on an extended leg. Unfortunately, spiral fractures in children are not always accidental. If a healthcare provider, like aradiologist, observes a spiral fracture on an X-ray, they will look for other signs of abuse.
Spiral Fracture X-Ray DetailsX-raysare the primary test used to diagnose fractures. Spiral fractures cause a break that goes around the bone on X-ray, appearing similar to stripes on a candy cane.Sometimes, healthcare providers usecomputed tomography(CT) scans to provide a cross-section image of the fracture, which can help them distinguish spiral fractures from other types of bone breaks.
Spiral Fracture X-Ray Details
X-raysare the primary test used to diagnose fractures. Spiral fractures cause a break that goes around the bone on X-ray, appearing similar to stripes on a candy cane.Sometimes, healthcare providers usecomputed tomography(CT) scans to provide a cross-section image of the fracture, which can help them distinguish spiral fractures from other types of bone breaks.
Spiral fracture treatment varies based on the severity of your break. Initial treatment involves immobilizing the bone for non-displaced (still aligned) or displaced fractures that can beset(put back into place). Depending on the affected bone, a healthcare provider will use acastthat stays in place and is cut off once the bone has healed, or they’ll apply a splint/brace that you can remove to clean the skin beneath the brace.
Spiral fractures that are displaced or compound require surgery. One common surgery involves placing a rod through the long bone that is then screwed to the bone at each end—a procedure calledintramedullarynailing.
Fractures that are not stable or have multiple pieces that cannot be held together with a rod are typically treated surgically with plates and screws. Very unstable fractures might need external fixation—temporary immobilization with pins that stick out of the skin and are connected to a bar that holds the bone in place while it is healing.
Did I Bruise My Bone or Break It?
Are Spiral Fractures Worse Than Other Types of Fractures?
Spiral fractures can be more complicated regarding treatment and healing than other fractures. Spiral fractures create a jagged edge around the bone, while other fractures—such as a transverse or oblique fracture—break in a straight line (also called a clean break).
However, compound (open) or comminuted (broken into several pieces), could be considered worse than a non-displaced spiral fracture. Compound, or comminuted, fractures typically require surgery to realign the bones and come with a higher risk of complications such as infection, fascia swelling, or a severe condition known ascompartment syndrome.
Spiral Fracture Healing Timeline
How long it takes to heal a spiral fracture depends on injury severity, whether or not you need surgery and your overall health.
Short- and Long-Term Effects
Broken bones typically heal within six to 12 weeks.However, many factors affect the timeline for bone healing, such as your general health and how well you follow your healthcare provider’s instructions. Spiral fractures that damage blood supply to the bone can also delay the healing process.
Although the bone can heal within a couple of weeks, returning to full functioning after a spiral fracture can take much longer. Immobilization often leads to stiffness, decreased range of motion, and weakness.
Physical therapyis helpful for restoring function after a spiral fracture.Treatmentsinclude modalities to help decrease pain (such as ice, heat, and electrical stimulation), manual therapy (such as massage and stretching), and exercises to improve range of motion and strength.
For a spiral fracture in your leg, your healthcare provider will likely recommend that you avoid putting weight (no weight-bearing) on the affected leg while the bone is healing. A physical therapist may teach you the proper use of assistive devices, such as a walker or cane, and help you walk normally again once your bone is fully healed.
Summary
Spiral fractures are a type of bone break that wraps around the whole bone. This type of injury occurs when a twisting force is applied to the bone, such as turning the body while a foot is planted on the ground. Spiral fractures range in severity, depending on whether or not the broken ends of the bone are in alignment or if the bone pokes through the skin when the injury occurs.
Spiral fractures are often treated with immobilization (with a cast or splint), but sometimes require surgery. Healing time frames can range from a few weeks to several months.
9 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Fractures.Oregon State University.Bone classification.Radiology Masterclass.Introduction to trauma X-ray.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Fractures (broken bones).Shi Y, Li F, Liang W, Liu J.Effect of different reduction intramedullary nails on spiral fracture of middle and lower tibia.Contrast Media Mol Imaging. 2022;2022:4716978. doi:10.1155%2F2022%2F4716978University of Texas.Child abuse and neglect.Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Tibia (shinbone) shaft fractures.Hospital for Special Surgery.Compound fracture.American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons.Bone healing.
9 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Fractures.Oregon State University.Bone classification.Radiology Masterclass.Introduction to trauma X-ray.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Fractures (broken bones).Shi Y, Li F, Liang W, Liu J.Effect of different reduction intramedullary nails on spiral fracture of middle and lower tibia.Contrast Media Mol Imaging. 2022;2022:4716978. doi:10.1155%2F2022%2F4716978University of Texas.Child abuse and neglect.Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Tibia (shinbone) shaft fractures.Hospital for Special Surgery.Compound fracture.American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons.Bone healing.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Fractures.Oregon State University.Bone classification.Radiology Masterclass.Introduction to trauma X-ray.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Fractures (broken bones).Shi Y, Li F, Liang W, Liu J.Effect of different reduction intramedullary nails on spiral fracture of middle and lower tibia.Contrast Media Mol Imaging. 2022;2022:4716978. doi:10.1155%2F2022%2F4716978University of Texas.Child abuse and neglect.Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Tibia (shinbone) shaft fractures.Hospital for Special Surgery.Compound fracture.American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons.Bone healing.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Fractures.
Oregon State University.Bone classification.
Radiology Masterclass.Introduction to trauma X-ray.
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Fractures (broken bones).
Shi Y, Li F, Liang W, Liu J.Effect of different reduction intramedullary nails on spiral fracture of middle and lower tibia.Contrast Media Mol Imaging. 2022;2022:4716978. doi:10.1155%2F2022%2F4716978
University of Texas.Child abuse and neglect.
Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Tibia (shinbone) shaft fractures.
Hospital for Special Surgery.Compound fracture.
American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons.Bone healing.
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