A transverse fracture occurs when a bone is broken perpendicular to its length.
The fracture pattern is a straight line that runs in the opposite direction of the bone.
Transverse fractures can happen to any bone in the body, but usually affect longer bones after a trauma like:
- A fall
- An accident
- Severe and sudden twisting or bending
Examples of transverse fractures include:
- A femur fracture in a pedestrian who is hit from the side by a car.
- A transverse process fracture caused by severe trauma to the back, such as a fall, car, motorcycle, or pedestrian collision, or severe and sudden twisting or bending
- A transverse spinal fracture caused by a high-impact collision, such as a contact sports injury or motor vehicle accident
Transverse fractures are caused by immense force applied perpendicularly to the bone.