Definition of fracture

The word "fracture" derives from the Latin fractura, meaning a break or a crack. In the medieval era, the Latin term fractura corporis meant a violation of the corporal integrity, signifying a physical injury or wound. In the 15th century, the Old French equivalent, fracture, was introduced into the English vocabulary. At first, it denoted only a breakage of an object, as in "a fracture of the wooden leg of a bed." Gradually, the meaning shifted to cover medical issues - an application first noted in the mid-19th century when British and American medical writers began to use "fracture" to signify a broken bone. The term gained acceptance and became common thanks to the increasing popularity of scientific terminology. Nowadays, "fracture" is often abbreviated as "fx" in medical records and reports. The plural form varies - in the U.S., it's fractures; in the U.K., fracture; in Australia, fractures; and in Canada, fractures or fracture (depending on the first language spoken by the patient).