impacted fracture

An impacted fracture occurs when the broken ends of a bone are jammed together due to the force of an injury. This is a type of bone fracture, which is a break caused by stress. Bones can be predisposed to fracture due to conditions like osteoporosis in older adults or cancer spread to bones.1

A fracture-dislocation is a more severe injury where both a fracture and a dislocation happen at the same time. Sometimes, a piece of bone can get stuck between the dislocated bones, requiring surgery. Healing an impacted fracture may take longer than a simple fracture, and there's a greater chance of permanent stiffness or disability.2