simple fracture: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2 (Specialized Medical Terminology)Formal/Technical (Medical, Emergency Services)
Quick answer
What does “simple fracture” mean?
A broken bone where the skin remains intact, with no open wound connecting the fracture site to the outside.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A broken bone where the skin remains intact, with no open wound connecting the fracture site to the outside.
In geology, it can refer to a clean break in rock without significant displacement, but this is secondary to the primary medical meaning.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Terminology is identical and standard in medical contexts in both UK and US English.
Connotations
Clinically neutral term in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally common in professional medical discourse in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “simple fracture” in a Sentence
Patient + sustain/have + a simple fracture + of + [bone]X-ray + show/reveal + a simple fractureVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “simple fracture” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The simple-fracture diagnosis was a relief compared to an open wound.
American English
- He had a simple-fracture case that required just a cast.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might appear in occupational health or insurance reports.
Academic
Common in medical, nursing, physiotherapy, and sports science textbooks and journals.
Everyday
Used by laypeople when recounting or describing a medical diagnosis, though often simplified to 'clean break'.
Technical
The standard, precise term in radiology reports, clinical notes, and surgical planning.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “simple fracture”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “simple fracture”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “simple fracture”
- Using 'simple' to mean the fracture is minor or easy to treat (severity is not implied).
- Confusing it with 'hairline fracture'.
- Saying 'easy fracture'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. 'Simple' refers only to the skin being intact. The fracture itself can be very painful and serious, potentially requiring surgery.
Not exactly. A hairline fracture is a type of simple fracture where the crack in the bone is very fine. All hairline fractures are simple, but not all simple fractures are hairline (they can be complete breaks).
The direct opposite is a 'compound fracture' or 'open fracture', where the broken bone pierces the skin.
Yes, if the broken bone ends shift severely or if external trauma punctures the skin over the break, it can convert from a simple to a compound fracture, which is a medical emergency.
Simple fracture is usually formal/technical (medical, emergency services) in register.
Simple fracture: in British English it is pronounced /ˌsɪmpl ˈfræk.tʃər/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌsɪmpl ˈfræk.tʃɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None directly; it is a technical term.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
SIMPLE fracture = Skin Is Mostly Perfectly Largely Entire (i.e., intact).
Conceptual Metaphor
HEALTH IS WHOLENESS / A BONE IS A STRUCTURAL SUPPORT (a fracture is a failure of that support).
Practice
Quiz
What is the key distinguishing feature of a simple fracture?