What are the symptoms of a comminuted fracture?

What are the symptoms of a comminuted fracture?

If you have a comminuted fracture, you’ll also likely experience serious symptoms of the trauma that caused it. Your symptoms will depend on the other injuries you have. But, in general, the symptoms of a comminuted fracture can include:

• Intense pain.
• Not being able to move a part of your body you normally can.
• A part of your body is noticeably different looking or out of its usual place.
• Seeing your bone through your skin.
• Swelling.
• Bruising.

Open vs. closed comminuted fractures

Your healthcare provider will classify your fracture as either open or closed. If you have an open fracture your bone breaks through your skin. Open fractures are sometimes also called compound fractures. Open fractures usually take longer to heal and have an increased risk of infections and other complications. Closed fractures are still serious, but your bone does not push through your skin.

Displaced comminuted fractures

Displaced or non-displaced are more words your provider will use to describe your fracture. A displaced fracture means the pieces of your bone moved so much that a gap formed around the fracture when your bone broke. Non-displaced fractures are still broken bones, but the pieces weren’t moved far enough to be out of alignment during the break. Displaced fractures are much more likely to require surgery to repair. Comminuted fractures are more likely to be displaced than other types of broken bones because they always have multiple broken pieces.