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History Introduction Principle Anatomic Location
The 3 Fracture "Types" of Long Bones The Coding of the Diagnosis
The Qualifications How to use this Classification Glossary References

The 3 Fracture "Types" of Long Bones

The 3 fracture "types" of the 4 diaphyseal segments are identical.

They are either simple fx = "Type" A, or multifragmentary fx. Multifragmentary fractures are either wedge fx = "Type" B, or complex fx = "Type" C, depending on the contact between the two main fragments after reduction.

The 3 "Types" of the 4 distal segments 13-, 23-, 33-, 43-, and of 2 of the 4 proximal segments (21-, 41-) are identical.

They are either extra-articular fx = "Type" A, or articular fx. The articular fractures are either partial articular fx = "Type" B, or complete articular fx = "Type" C.

The 3 exceptions are the segment 11- = Humerus proximal, 31- = Femur proximal, and 44- = Malleolar segment:

11- Humerus proximal: "Type" A = extra-articular unifocal fx, "Type" B = extra-articular bifocal fx, and "Type" C = articular fx.

31- Femur proximal: "Type" A = trochanteric area, "Type" B = neck, "Type" C = head.

Trochanteric area: Is delimited by the intertrochanteric line above and the distal limit of the proximal segment below. All fractures in this area are considered as trochanteric fractures.
Neck: The femoral neck is delimited by the intertrochanteric line and border of the articular cartilage. Neck fractures are extra-articular but intra-capsular.
Head: The head is defined as that portion of the proximal segment covered by articular cartilage.

44- Malleolar segment: "Type" A = infrasyndesmotic lesion, "Type" B = trans-syndesmotic fibular fx, and "Type" C = suprasyndesmotic lesion.