injuries and poisoning
Overview of Fractures
Causes of Fractures
Trauma is the most common cause of fractures. Trauma includes Direct force, as occurs in falls or motor vehicle accidents Repeated moderate force, as may occur in long-distance runners or in soldiers marching with a heavy load on their back (such fractures are called Stress Fractures of the Foot ) How severe a fracture is depends partly on how strong the force is. For example, a fall on level ground usually causes minor fractures, but a fall from a tall building can cause severe fractures that involve several bones. Some fractures occur while playing certain sports (see Overview of Sports Injuries ). Some disorders can weaken bone. They include Certain infections Overview of Bone Tumors (which may be cancerous or not), including cancers that have spread (metastasized) from elsewhere in the body to the bone Osteoporosis None People with one of these disorders are more likely to break a bone, even when only slight force is involved. Such fractures are called pathologic fractures. 