Fundación Maurice E. Müller - España
Foundation Overview Teaching Activities and ServicesComprehensive Classification SystemBooksData Base of Fractures CasesResearch ActivitiesWebsite Map
Atlas of International Fixation Errores en la OsteosíntesisAtlas de Artroscopia
Introduction Presentation Explanation Main Index Collaborations

Foreword Preface to the English Edition Preface to the Spanish Edition
Presentation Acknowledgements The Classification
Principles of the Classification Colors and Glossary Bones and Segments Types Exceptions to the Types How to Use the Classification
Statistical Abstract References

 

Colors and Glossary

Colors

Starting from the Types, the fractures are arranged according to their complexity, treatment difficulty and prognosis. The Types are of an increasing complexity according to the advancement of the letters of the alphabet (A, B, C). The Groups and Subgroups are of a poorer prognosis according to the advancement of the numerals (1, 2, 3). The addition of the colors of a traffic-light to the letters, numerals and drawings allows us to get an idea of the severity of the fracture at first glance.

Glossary

In order to facilitate the correct interpretation of the terminology used in the atlas, we transcribe the glossary published in the Comprehensive Classification of Fractures of Long Bones.

Simple: A term used to characterize a single circumferential disruption of a diaphysis or metaphysis or a single disruption of an articular surface. Simple fractures of the diaphysis or metaphysis may be either spiral, oblique or transverse.

Multifragmentary: A term used to characterize any fracture with one or more completely separated intermediate fragment(s), either a wedge fragment or forming part of a com-plex fracture.

Wedge: A fracture with one intermediate fragment in which, after reduction, there is some contact between the main fragments.

Complex: A fracture with one or more intermediate fragments in which, after reduction, there is no contact between the main proximal and distal fragments.

Conminuted: An imprecise term that should not be used. It is substituted by “complex”.

Impacted: A stable and usually simple fracture of the metaphysis or the epiphysis in which the fragments are driven one into the other.

Extra-articular: A fracture that does not involve the articular surface, although it may be intra-capsular.

Intra-capsular: Afracture within the joint capsule, although it may not involve the arti-cular surface.

Articular: A fracture that involves the articular surface and it always is intra-capsular. It may be either partial or complete.

Partial articular: A fracture that involves only part of the articular surface while the rest of that surface remains attached to the diaphysis. The different types of partial articular fractures are: pure split, pure depression, split-depression and multifragmentary depression.

Complete articular: A fracture in which the articular surface is disrupted and completely separated from the diaphysis. The severity of these fractures depend on whether their metaphyseal components are simple or multifragmentary.