How to Answer: Tell me about a type of fracture that you may see on an xray.
Advice and answer examples written specifically for a Radiographer job interview.
29. Tell me about a type of fracture that you may see on an xray.
How to Answer
There are many types of fractures, but the main categories are displaced, non-displaced, open, and closed. Because of the unique properties of their bones, there are some defined fracture subtypes that present only in children. As a radiographer, identifying what type of fracture a patient is experienced is one of your responsibilities. The interviewer wants to know that you are able to differentiate between fractures.
Written by Darby Faubion on November 17th, 2018
Entry Level
"There are actually several types of fractures. A non-displaced fracture occurs when the bone cracks either part or all of the way through, but does move and maintains its proper alignment. When an open fracture occurs, the bone breaks through the skin. In some open fractures, the bone may stay exposed; in others, it may draw back into the wound and no longer be visible."
Written by Darby Faubion
Answer Example
"There are four main categories of fractures. Those categories are displaced, non-displaced, open, and closed. Displaced and non-displaced fractures refer to the alignment of the fractured bone. A closed fracture is when the bone breaks but there is no puncture or open wound in the skin. An open fracture is one in which the bone breaks through the skin; it may then recede back into the wound and not be visible through the skin."
Written by Darby Faubion on November 17th, 2018
Experienced
"Fractures can be open or closed. Open fractures occur when the broken bone pierces through the skin at the site of injury. While the bone may recede back into the wound, it is still considered an open fracture. Closed fractures are any break in the bone that do not pierce through the skin. Children have higher incidence of fractures, but they are often less severe than adults. Because of the unique properties of their bones, there is a sub-type of fractures that occur only in children. Those fractures include: A greenstick fracture in which the bone is bent, but not broken all the way through, a buckle fracture results from compression of two bones driven into each other, and a growth plate fracture at the joint that can result in shorter bone length."
Written by Darby Faubion