Physicians call broken bones fractures. Fractures result whenever a bone is hit by enough force to make it break, creating either a small crack or, in a serious fracture, a complete break. Dislocations occur when the bone has slipped out of its normal position in a joint where two bones meet.
Sprains occur when the ligaments in a joint are damaged.
For example, a sudden twisting of the knee or elbow causes this type of injury, which ranges from over-stretching and small tears to a complete parting of a ligament. Overworking or overextending muscles , doing heavy exercise during cold weather, and even failing to drink enough fluids can lead to small tears that make using muscles painful. There are two basic types of fractures, open and closed. The break causes considerable damage to surrounding tissue and can cause serious bleeding if a large artery is broken. It also exposes the broken bone to the possibility of infection, which can interfere with healing.