It may come as a surprise, but a broken bone and a fractured bone are the same thing. A fracture occurs when an outside force is too great for a bone to handle. Although generally rigid, bones can weaken over time and become more susceptible to fracturing. Fractures may occur lengthwise, crosswise, or in multiple pieces. Similarly, the underlying causes of bone breaks varies. Types of Bone Fractures: • Compound (open) fracture. The bone may pierce the skin at the time of the fracture. • Transverse fracture. When the bone breaks in a horizontal line. • Oblique fracture. When the bone has a diagonal or angled break. • Comminuted fracture. This means the bone has been shattered into 3 or more pieces. • Greenstick fracture. When the bone bends and cracks but does not fully break. This is commonly seen in children because their bones are softer and more flexible than adults. A fracture may be further classified by whether or not the broken pieces of bone are aligned: • Non-displaced fracture. When the parts of the bone that are broken remain aligned. • Displaced fracture. When the parts of the bone that are broken are displaced. This can cause a fracture to be labeled unstable or stable. These clinical terms refer to whether the bone pieces can be easily disturbed and moved out of place. When a fracture is labeled unstable, it means that the two pieces of bone that are broken will not be able to withstand normal weight-bearing or natural physiologic forces.