fracture, pathologic

A pathologic fracture is a fracture that occurs through an area of bone that has been weakened by a process of disease or a tumorous growth. For example, spontaneous hip fractures in the elderly are the result of generalized bone thinning due to osteoporosis. In children, pathologic fractures most often occur where a bone tumor or cyst has weakened the bone. See for example unicameral bone cyst.

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