Key Difference: A fracture and a break are the same thing. A fracture is a medically used term for a break.

Bones are an important part of the human body. They are rigid organs that support and protect many organs, along with producing red and white blood cells and storing minerals. An adult human has 206 bones in their body. Though, bones are really tough, pressure greater than they can sustain can cause the bones to break of fracture. A break is the same as a fracture.

A bone fracture is when there is a break in the continuity of the bone. The symptoms of fracture include pain, bones prodding through the skin, swelling and loss of function. Bone fractures can be caused by various reasons, which can be classified under two categories; traumatic and pathological fracture. A traumatic fracture results from blunt force trauma to the bone, such as falling or hitting into something hard. Pathological fractures are fractures that occur due to diseases that can weaken the bone such as Osteoporosis, chronic kidney diseases, chronic liver diseases, rickettes and hypovitaminosis D.

Fractures can be classified by anatomical location, where the fracture is defined by the location of the bone such as skull fracture, spinal fracture, rib fracture, etc. Another type of classification is orthopedic, where fractures are defined by the condition they are in such as open fracture (the bone is visible and the skin is ripped as well, closed fracture (the skin is intact), compression fractures, complete fracture, incomplete fracture, linear fracture, etc.

Bone fractures are diagnosed through imaging, most commonly using X-rays. Fractures are treated by managing pain, keeping the bones intact using splints or screws, or surgery in some cases, depending on the severity of the fracture. In rare cases, a person may also be required to amputate if the area is infected.

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