Fracture vs. Sprain
The main difference between Fracture and Sprain is that Fracture is called breaking of bones, whereas Sprain is called the stretching of ligaments.
Key Differences
A fracture can be caused by some disease and termed as pathological fracture, whereas sprain cannot be caused by any disease.
The fracture can occur in any bone in the body, i.e., hands, toes, legs, arms, wrists, ankles, foot, hands, or any other area of bone. In contrast, a sprain occurs only is ankles or wrists, sometimes in thumb too.
Breaking or cracking of bones is called a fracture, whereas splinting and stretching of ligaments is called a sprain.
When a bone breaks entirely or incompletely, it is described as a fracture. On the other hand, when a ligament that joins bone to bone bears extreme pressure and result in damaging the ligament, it is called a sprain.
Fracture is diagnosed by an X-ray, CT scan, Bone scan, MRI (magnetic resonance imaging). In contrast, a sprain can be diagnosed easily by noticing redness, swelling, and numbness in the affected area.
A fracture can be the result of automobile accidents, falls, or sports injuries. On the other hand, a sprain is caused by falling, hitting, or twisting of soft tissues or ligaments forming joints joining the bones.
Fracture is accompanied by angulation, pain, swelling, inflammation, and bone deformity. On the flip side, a sprain is accompanied by pain, bulging, lumping, bruising, and inability to move.
A fracture can be caused by osteoporosis that is softening of bones due to deficiency of calcium and vitamin D, which are responsible for the hardening of bones. On the flip side, a sprain is not caused by osteoporosis.
Fracture takes 2-8 weeks in the recovery of bone, whereas sprain is recovered on itself within a week in most cases.
Fracture is treated by plastic casts or metal splints, whereas sprain is treated in the best way by RICE therapy.
Comparison Chart
.
A break or crack in bones is called a fracture.
Stretching, or twisting of one or more ligaments is called a sprain.
Areas
In arms, elbows, wrists, hands, legs, ankles, foot, toe, etc.
Ankle or wrist
Causes
Accidents, falls, sports injuries, osteoporosis, etc.
Falling, hitting, twisting
Signs and Symptoms
Its signs and symptoms are affected area unable to move, swelling, pain, bruising, bent bone in unusual angle, and bone deformities, etc.
Its signs and symptoms are affected joint unable to move, pain, swelling, bruising, etc.
Diagnosis
X-ray, MRI, Bone scan, CT scan, etc
Pain, swelling, redness, and numbness
Treatment
Casts or splints
RICE Therapy, which means rest, ice, compression, elevation.
Fracture and Sprain Definitions
Fracture
The act or process of breaking.
Sprain
A painful wrenching or laceration of the ligaments of a joint.
Fracture
The condition of having been broken or ruptured
"a sudden and irreparable fracture of the established order" (W. Bruce Lincoln).
Sprain
The condition resulting from a sprain.
Fracture
A break, rupture, or crack, especially in bone or cartilage.
Sprain
To cause a sprain to (a joint or ligament).
Fracture
The characteristic manner in which a mineral breaks.
Sprain
To weaken, as a joint, ligament, or muscle, by sudden and excessive exertion, as by wrenching; to overstrain, or stretch injuriously, but without luxation
To sprain one's ankle
Fracture
The characteristic appearance of the surface of a broken mineral.
Sprain
The act or result of spraining; lameness caused by spraining
A bad sprain of the wrist
Fracture
(Geology) A crack or fault in a rock.
Sprain
To weaken, as a joint, ligament, or muscle, by sudden and excessive exertion, as by wrenching; to overstrain, or stretch injuriously, but without luxation; as, to sprain one's ankle.
Fracture
To cause to break
The impact of the fall fractured the bone.
Sprain
The act or result of spraining; lameness caused by spraining; as, a bad sprain of the wrist.
Fracture
To undergo a break in (a bone)
He fractured his ankle in the fall.
Sprain
A painful injury to a joint caused by a sudden wrenching of its ligaments
Fracture
To disrupt or destroy as if by breaking
Fractured the delicate balance of power.
Sprain
Twist suddenly so as to sprain;
Wrench one's ankle
The wrestler twisted his shoulder
The hikers sprained their ankles when they fell
I turned my ankle and couldn't walk for several days
Fracture
To abuse or misuse flagrantly, as by violating rules
Ignorant writers who fracture the language.
Fracture
(Slang) To cause to laugh heartily
"Jack Benny fractured audiences ... for more than 50 years" (Newsweek).
Fracture
To undergo a fracture.
Fracture
An instance of breaking, a place where something has broken.
Fracture
(medicine) A break in bone or cartilage.
Fracture
(geology) A fault or crack in a rock.
Fracture
(ambitransitive) To break, or cause something to break.
Fracture
To amuse (a person) greatly; to split someone's sides.
Fracture
The act of breaking or snapping asunder; rupture; breach.
Fracture
The breaking of a bone.
Fracture
The texture of a freshly broken surface; as, a compact fracture; an even, hackly, or conchoidal fracture.
Fracture
To cause a fracture or fractures in; to break; to burst asunder; to crack; to separate the continuous parts of; as, to fracture a bone; to fracture the skull.
Fracture
Breaking of hard tissue such as bone;
It was a nasty fracture
The break seems to have been caused by a fall
Fracture
(geology) a crack in the earth's crust resulting from the displacement of one side with respect to the other;
They built it right over a geological fault
Fracture
The act of cracking something
Fracture
Violate or abuse;
This writer really fractures the language
Fracture
Interrupt, break, or destroy;
Fracture the balance of power
Fracture
Break into pieces;
The pothole fractured a bolt on the axle
Fracture
Become fractured;
The tibia fractured from the blow of the iron pipe
Fracture
Break (a bone);
She broke her clavicle
Fracture
Fracture a bone of;
I broke my foot while playing hockey
Fracture vs. Sprain
Breaking or twisting of bones is called a fracture, whereas stretching of ligaments, which are tissues that connect bones at joints, is called a sprain. A fracture happens in elbows, wrists, hands, arms, legs, ankle, foot, and toes. On the other hand, sprain usually happens in ankle and wrist.
Fracture mostly happens due to high force or stress o bones, whereas sprain mostly happens due to extreme force on the soft tissues called ligaments that join a bone to a bone. Fracture has many types, including simple, compound, complete, and incomplete fractures. On the other hand, sprain has no further types.
A fracture can be diagnosed through an X-ray, MRI, or CT scan, etc. On the flip side, a sprain can be diagnosed easily by health care professionals, or an X-ray can be suggested for the analysis. The fracture can occur as a result of an accident, falling, or sports injury, etc. On the other hand, a sprain can occur as a result of falling, hitting, or twisting.
Fractures can be the result of osteoporosis, which is softening of bones due to lack of calcium and vitamin D, whereas sprains are generally not caused by osteoporosis. The symptoms of fracture are that the affected area is unable to move, bone bent at an unusual angle, and deformity in the affected area. On the flip side, a sprain is accompanied by pain, swelling, and bruising, etc.
What is Fracture?
Fracture is the cracking or breaking of any bone in the body. Bone can be converted into pieces as a result of a fracture. A fracture can be crosswise, lengthwise, or in many places of the body, which can be termed as multiple fractures.
In medical terms, the fractures that are caused by some diseases are called pathological fractures, which result in weakening of bones. Fractures can occur at any bone of the body, i.e., arms, legs, elbows, wrists, ankles, hands, foot, toes, etc. The extreme pressure or force on bone results in bone breaking, which is called a fracture.
Types
- Simple Fracture: The fracture in which there is no open wound in the skin, and the bone is broken inside is called a simple fracture. A simple fracture can be in the form of transverse, greenstick, obstructed, oblique and comminuted fracture.
- Compound Fracture: The type of fracture in which fragmented bone is evident through the skin and the open wound is on the skin is called a compound fracture.
- Complete Fracture: When a bone breaks into two pieces or many pieces completely, then it is called a complete fracture of bones.
- Incomplete Fracture: When a bone divides discontinuously, and pieces of bones are not completely shattered, then it is called incomplete fracture of bones. Greenstick fracture is an example of incomplete bone fracture.
Symptoms
- Affected bone area unable to move
- Pain
- Bulging
- Bruising
- Deformity in the affected bone
Treatment
Fracture is treated by using plastic casts and splits.
What is Sprain?
The soft tissues that join bone to bone when suffering extreme pressure result in stretching, breaking, or twisting. This condition is called the sprain. When excessive force is applied at joints like ankle and wrist, a sprain is produced.
Causes
- Falling can cause a sprain.
- Striking or hitting can result in ligament damage resulting in a sprain.
- Twisting or bending of ligaments can cause a sprain.
Symptoms
- Aching
- Puffiness
- Bruising
- Joint inability to move
Diagnosis
A sprain can be diagnosed by visiting health care professionals either by noticing the pain and swelling in the affected area or X-ray can also be advised in severe cases. Most sprains are diagnosed with pain and inflammation in affected areas. Redness and numbness in the affected soft tissued can also be noticed.
Treatment
In most cases, sprains can be recovered easily by themselves with time at home. In severe cases, physical therapy is required, and surgery can be requested too.
The best method to treat a sprain is RICE therapy, where R means rest, I means ice, C means compression, and E means elevation. These four steps can cure the sprain in the best and effective way.
Prevention
The tips and steps to prevent sprain are maintaining a properly balanced diet, avoid playing or extreme exercising during pain, and following safety measures during work or any physical activity. The adequate balanced diet helps make our muscles strong, and safety measures prevent further damaging of ligaments.
