Bone fracture, broken bone, and bone crack all mean the same thing. They occur when the physical force exerted on the bone is stronger than the bone itself.

Bones break when they cannot withstand a force or trauma applied to them. Sometimes the bones are so weak that they cannot withstand the force of gravity, such as compression fractures of the back in the elderly. As you age, your bones become more brittle and you are more likely to suffer fractures from falls that would not occur when you were young.

Learn more about Fractures through our educational images: