Spiral fracture
Also called: twisting fracture
What it means
A spiral fracture is a break that curves around the bone like a corkscrew, usually caused by a twisting force rather than a direct blow. It's common in long bones like the tibia, femur, or humerus.
If you fall and your foot or leg twists while the rest of your body keeps moving, this type of fracture can happen, so good balance and safe footing matter.
A spiral fracture happens when a bone is twisted along its length until it breaks. Instead of a clean, straight crack, the fracture line wraps around the bone in a spiral pattern, similar to the stripe on a candy cane. These fractures most often occur in long bones such as the femur, tibia, or humerus.
Common causes include falls where the foot stays planted but the body twists, sports injuries, or accidents involving a rotational force. In older adults, a spiral fracture can also happen from a lower-impact twist if the bone has already been weakened by low bone density, so it's sometimes seen alongside conditions like osteoporosis or osteopenia.
Treatment depends on how stable the fracture is and where it's located. Options range from casting or splinting to surgical fixation with rods, plates, or screws if the bone fragments have shifted out of place. Your doctor or orthopedic surgeon will decide the best approach based on imaging and the specific bone involved, along with a plan for weight-bearing status and rehabilitation afterward.
A twisting fall, not a direct hit, is the usual cause of a corkscrew-shaped spiral fracture.
Where this leads
WordWondering if a twist like this could break a healthy bone too? Fragility fracture explains how a low-trauma break itself signals weaker bone.
Related words
A stress fracture is a small crack in a bone caused by repeated stress over time, rather than a single hard blow.
A comminuted fracture is a break where the bone shatters into three or more pieces, usually from a strong impact or…
A greenstick fracture is a partial break where the bone bends and cracks on one side but doesn't break all the way…
Fracture healing is the body's natural, staged process of repairing a broken bone, moving from initial bleeding and…
Internal fixation is surgery that uses metal rods, plates, screws, or wires placed inside the body to hold a broken…
A fragility fracture is a broken bone caused by a fall or bump that normally wouldn't break a healthy bone, often at…
Education only, not medical advice. Decisions about tests, medications and treatment belong with your own doctor. OsteoStrong does not diagnose, treat or cure any disease.
