a broken bone is a fracture

The medical term for a broken bone is a fracture. But there are different kinds of fractures. 

骨骼断裂的医学术语是“骨折”。但骨折分为不同的类型。 

A single fracture is when a bone is broken in just one place. You may have heard the term hairline fracture. This is a single fracture that is very small, like the width of a hair. 

单处骨折指的是骨骼仅有一个地方被损伤。你也许听说过“骨裂”这个术语。这是指这个单处骨折非常小，其裂口宽度就和头发丝一样。 

A complete fracture is when the bone comes apart. When a bone is broken in more than two places or gets crushed, the name for it is a comminuted fracture. Still another condition is called a bowing fracture. This happens with a bone that bends but does not break. It happens mostly in children. 

Ever heard of a greenstick fracture? This is when a bone is bent and breaks along only one side, like a young stick of wood. 

完全性骨折指的是骨头断开了。当一块骨头有超过两个位置的损伤发生，或者骨头碎了，就叫做粉碎性骨折。另外还有一种状况被称为弓形骨折，这种情况发生时，骨头被弯曲了，但并未断裂，大多在儿童身上发生。 

你是否听说过青枝骨折？这是指当骨头被弯曲了，仅在骨头的一边发生撕裂的情形，就像树木的嫩枝一样。 

Another kind of break is an open or compound fracture. This is when the bone breaks the skin. This is very serious. Along with the bone damage there is a risk of infection in the open wound. 

另外还有一种骨折称为开放性骨折或者复杂性骨折。发生时受损的骨头刺破皮肤。这种情况非常严重。伴随骨头损伤的是开放伤口处存在的感染风险。 

A lot of things happen as the body reacts to an injury like a broken bone. You might suddenly feel lightheaded. You might also feel sick to your stomach. 

People who are seriously injured can go into shock. They might feel cold, dizzy and unable to think clearly. Shock requires immediate medical attention. 

躯体对诸如骨折之类伤害的反应表现为许多状况，你可能会突然感觉到头晕眼花，也可能会反胃。重伤的人可能会发生休克。他们会感觉冷、眩晕、不能清晰地思考。休克病人必须马上进行医疗救治。 

But while broken bones can be painful, they are generally not life-threatening. Still, broken bones should be treated quickly because they can restrict blood flow or cause nerve damage. Also, the break will start to repair itself, so you want to make sure the bone is lined up correctly. 

虽然骨折非常疼，但通常不会危及生命。但由于骨折会阻断血液循环或者损伤神经，因此仍然必须尽快处理。同时，由于断骨会自行修复，因此需要确认断骨被正确地接合了。 

X-rays are taken to see the break. Treatment depends on the kind of fracture that is identified. A doctor sets a broken bone to make sure it is in the correct position. Severe breaks may require an operation to hold the bone together with metal plates and screws. 

医生们使用 X 光来检查骨折。而后所采取的治疗措施取决于骨折的类型。医生会重新复位断骨以确保其在正确的位置。严重的骨折需要进行手术，用金属板或者螺丝钉来续接断骨。 

Then, a hard cast may be put around the area of the break to hold the bone in place while it heals. Casts are usually worn for one to two months. In some cases, instead of a cast, a splint made of plastic or metal will be secured over the area to restrict movement. 

在治疗过程中，会在断骨周围打上石膏以确保其不移位。打石膏的时间通常为一到两个月。有些病例不用石膏，而使用塑料或者金属制成的夹板固定断骨防止其移位。 

Bones need calcium and vitamin D to grow and reach their full strength. Keeping bones strong with exercise may also help prevent fractures, especially if you wear the right sports protection during activities. If you think elbow and knee pads might be restrictive, try wearing a cast. 

骨骼需要钙和维生素 D 以供生长及回复强度。经常锻炼以保持骨骼的强韧也有助于预防骨折，特别是在运动中穿上正确的运动护具的时候。如果你觉得手肘和膝盖需要保护，就穿上护具吧。