Compression Fracture: Definition, Uses, and Clinical Overview
A Compression Fracture is a fracture pattern in which bone collapses under axial load (a “squeezing” force). It is a **condition** (an injury diagnosis) most commonly discussed in the **spine**, especially the vertebral bodies. In practice, clinicians use the term to describe fracture stability, likely mechanism, and risk to the spinal canal and nerves. It is evaluated in emergency, inpatient, and outpatient musculoskeletal care using history, exam, and imaging.