Which description best defines a transverse fracture?

• A. A fracture that runs perpendicular to the long axis of the bone
• B. A fracture where the bone ends are driven together (impacted)
• C. A fracture that spirals around the bone
• D. A fracture in which bone is crushed into multiple pieces

Answer: (A)

Transverse fractures are defined by a break that cuts across the bone at roughly a right angle to its long axis. On an X-ray this appears as a straight, horizontal fracture line through the shaft. This orientation distinguishes it from other patterns: an impacted fracture has the bone ends pressed together, a spiral fracture twists around the bone, and a comminuted fracture breaks the bone into many pieces. The key idea is the fracture line’s orientation relative to the bone’s length, not how far the pieces have shifted.