Final answer:
When the two ends of a bone are not aligned after a fracture, it is called a displaced fracture. Types of displaced fractures include transverse, oblique, spiral, comminuted, and impacted fractures. Proper medical intervention is key to ensure the bone heals correctly.
Step-by-step explanation:
When two ends of a bone are not aligned after a fracture, the type of fracture is typically called a displaced fracture. This misalignment can take various forms, such as:
- A transverse fracture, which occurs straight across the long axis of the bone.
- An oblique fracture, which occurs at an angle that is not 90 degrees.
- A spiral fracture, where bone segments are pulled apart as a result of a twisting motion.
- A comminuted fracture, where several breaks result in many small pieces between two large segments.
- An impacted fracture, where one fragment is driven into the other, usually as a result of compression.
Fractures can heal with or without medical intervention, but proper alignment is crucial for the healing process to restore the bone to its proper anatomical position. If not correctly reset, either through closed reduction (manipulation without surgery) or open reduction (surgical exposure and resetting), the bone may heal in a deformed position.