What is a complicated fracture?

According to Dr. Mark Brinker, a complex fracture describes a broken bone that is more severe than what is common or routine. Treatment of complex fractures often includes surgery and various internal or external fixation devices.

As Dr. Brinker explains, there are many different types of fractures that can be considered complex, such as a bone broken into many pieces, a case where the soft tissue is severely damaged or if parts of a bone have been lost due to severe trauma. As the Orlando Orthopaedic Center explains, in cases of children who have suffered complex fractures, the prognosis is usually quite good due to future potential for bone growth.