Displaced vs. Nondisplaced Fractures

person with white bandage on hand by Daniel Lloyd Blunk-Fernández is licensed by Unsplash License

Bone fractures are a common injury; in fact, over 60% of emergency room visits are associated with fractures. These injuries are categorized as either displaced or nondisplaced. Knowing the difference will help you understand the nature of your injury, its severity, and your likely path forward.

Understanding Fractures: Displaced vs. Nondisplaced

The term fracture refers to any bone break, and several types of fractures exist. If you or someone you know has suffered from a fracture, reviewing the terminology will help you better understand the nature of your injury. A displaced fracture occurs when the bone breaks entirely, and the pieces no longer align. A nondisplaced fracture is when the bone cracks partially or breaks completely, but the pieces are still in place.

Characteristics of Displaced Fractures

In a displaced fracture, the bone has been broken into at least two parts. This type of break occurs at an angle and is complete, going through the bone. They’re called displaced because the pieces of bone move apart, so a small gap exists between them. The displacement can result in bones moving far out of position, and the jagged pieces of bone are dangerous to everything around them. An oblique fracture may even result in small bone fragments that can shift around as you move.

The bones’ movement in a displaced fracture can damage surrounding muscles, ligaments, nerves, and blood vessels. The broken bones may even poke through the skin. You should seek medical attention immediately if you have broken skin with any type of fracture; the risk of infection and other complications is much higher if your skin is broken. However, a displaced fracture always needs prompt medical care.

Symptoms and Diagnosis of Displaced Fractures

A displaced fracture is a severe injury that causes pain, swelling, and bruising. You may notice that the area is misshapen, and you can see bones poking out from under the skin. You may be unable to move that part of the body or bear weight as you usually would. Numbness or tingling around the injury is a sign of nerve damage from the fracture.

Your doctor will begin with a physical examination of the site to evaluate the extent of the injury. They will typically order imaging tests, such as an X-ray to assess the position of the bones, along with a magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography scan to look for damage to the soft tissue or joints. If your doctor suspects damage to the blood vessels, they may order angiography to assess circulation around the fracture.

Causes and Risk Factors

Displaced fractures are nearly always caused by a fall or trauma. Fractures are more common in children and older adults, and are more serious for older adults who may have difficulty healing from this type of injury. These breaks are also more likely in patients with conditions that weaken the bones, such as osteoporosis, cancer, bone infections, or metabolic disorders. Previous fractures can weaken the bones and make future breaks more likely. 

Treatment Options for Displaced Fractures

The treatment plan for a displaced bone depends on the break’s location, nature, and severity. The primary goal is to realign the bone and immobilize the fracture so it can heal correctly. Nonsurgical treatment is sometimes possible for a displaced fracture, but the doctor must be able to realign the bones entirely by manipulating them from outside the body. This is only possible if the bones are only slightly displaced.

Surgery is often needed for a displaced bone. The surgeon makes an incision to access the broken bones and reposition them. It’s called an open reduction and internal fixation if the surgeon must use metal plates, screws, and rods to secure the bones in place. Another option is external fixation, where pins and screws are placed outside the body. The surgeon may use a bone graft to help repair the fracture if there’s bone loss associated with the injury.

The site must be immobilized with a cast, brace, or splint to heal, whether the treatment is surgical or nonsurgical. When healing is complete, physical therapy will help you restore your strength and range of motion.

Characteristics of Nondisplaced Fractures

A nondisplaced fracture is much simpler than a displaced break. The bone cracks either partially or completely in this type of fracture. The broken bone stays in place, and there is no gap at the fracture site, so a break of this type may heal more easily than one classified as displaced.

Symptoms and Diagnosis of Nondisplaced Fractures

A nondisplaced fracture will cause pain; you may also experience bruising and swelling. The injury won’t appear misshapen because the bones aren’t out of place. You may notice weakness or a limited range of motion.

Causes and Risk Factors

A nondisplaced fracture occurs for many of the same reasons as a displaced fracture. Stress fractures may also be nondisplaced fractures; they occur when a small to moderate force is repeatedly applied to the bone. The continued strain on the bone can cause a fracture to occur.

Treatment Options for Nondisplaced Fractures

Nondisplaced fractures are often treated nonsurgically. The doctor will apply a splint, brace, or cast to the injury to keep it in place and allow natural healing to occur. You should follow any physical therapy recommendations closely to regain full functionality after the fracture heals.

Visit the Hand and Wrist Institute for an Expert Diagnosis

Contact our experts at The Hand and Wrist Institute if you’ve suffered a hand, wrist, or arm injury. We can accurately diagnose any hand, wrist, or lower arm fracture and develop the appropriate treatment plan to restore your strength, comfort, and range of motion. Contact us today to schedule your appointment.

Dr. John Knight

Dr. Knight is a renowned hand, wrist and upper extremity surgeon with over 25 years of experience. Dr. Knight is a Board Certified Orthopedic Surgeon and Fellowship trained. Dr Knight has appeared on CNN, The Doctors TV, Good Morning America, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Forbes, The Huffington Post, Entrepreneur, Oxygen network and more.