The long, straight part of the femur (thighbone) is called the femoral shaft. When there is a break anywhere along this length of bone, it is called a femoral shaft fracture. The femur is the …

Common types of fractures include: Stable fracture. The broken ends of the bone line up and are barely out of place. Open (compound) fracture. The skin may be pierced by the bone or by a …

An open fracture, also called a compound fracture, is a fracture in which there is an open wound or break in the skin near the site of the broken bone. Immediate treatment for an open fracture …

An acetabular fracture is a break in the socket portion of the "ball-and-socket" hip joint. These hip socket fractures are not common — they occur much less frequently than fractures of the …

Doctors classify fractures of the thoracic and lumbar spine based on the specific pattern of the fracture and whether there is a spinal cord injury. Spine surgeons will classify spinal fractures …

A hand fracture is a break in one of the bones in the hand. This includes the small bones of the fingers (phalanges) and the long bones within the palm (metacarpals). A broken hand can be …

The pelvis is the sturdy ring of bones located at the base of the spine. Fractures of the pelvis are uncommon — they make up only about 3% of all fractures in adults. Most pelvic fractures are …

The most common knee injuries include tears of soft tissues (e.g., ligaments, meniscus), fractures, and dislocation. In many cases, injuries involve more than one structure in the knee. …

A tibial shaft fracture occurs along the length of the tibia (shinbone), below the knee and above the ankle. It typically takes a major force to cause this type of broken leg. Motor vehicle …

Illustration showing different types of finger fractures. (Left) With intraarticular fractures, the fracture extends into the joint. (Right) Avulsion fractures occur when a ligament or tendon and …