spiral fracture
Last reviewed 01/2018
A spiral fracture is one in which the plane of the fracture varies with distance along the bone. It is caused by a twisting movement about the long axis of the bone, for example a fall whilst skiing.
These fractures are unstable and tend to slip and redisplace even if the bone is splinted. Not uncommonly, the tips of the spike themselves break to produce a triangular fragment referred to as a butterfly fragment.