What type of fracture occurs as a result of a disease?

A pathologic fracture is a type of break that occurs in a bone weakened by disease or conditions such as osteoporosis, cancer, or a metabolic disorder. This type of fracture can occur with minimal or no trauma, as the underlying disease has compromised the bone's structural integrity. For instance, a person with osteoporosis may sustain a pathologic fracture simply from normal activities that would not typically cause an injury to healthy bone.

On the other hand, a compound fracture refers to a break where the bone pierces through the skin, and a simple fracture involves a break in the bone that does not penetrate the skin. Stress fractures are small cracks that develop in bones due to repetitive force or overuse, rather than as a direct result of an underlying disease process. Understanding these distinctions is crucial for proper diagnosis, treatment planning, and coding in a medical context.