A pathologicfractureoccurs when a bone breaks in an area that was already weakened by another disease.
When the bone is weakened by some underlying medical condition, the individual becomes more susceptible to fracture.
Causes of weakened bone include tumors, infection, and certain inherited bone disorders.
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Or, when the bone is severely weakened, a fracture can occur with no obvious event taking place.
Simply walking or getting up from a chair can lead to fracture when the bone is severely weakened.
Fractures of the bone come in many shapes and types.
The reason a fracture is called pathologic is that the bone was weakened even before an injury occurred.
A pathologic fracture is different in that it usually occurs during normal, routine activity.
Go see your healthcare provider for an evaluation to find out.
Your healthcare provider may recommend anX-rayto determine whether a bone is broken.
How do you know whether the fracture is pathological or not?
Treatment of a pathologic fracture is highly dependent on the cause of the weakened bone.
On the other hand, some causes of a pathologic fracture may prevent normalhealingof the bone.
Palmer W, Bancroft L, Bonar F, et al.Glossary of terms for musculoskeletal radiology.Skeletal Radiol.
2020;49(S1):1-33. doi:10.1007/s00256-020-03465-1
