sustained a fracture

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "sustained a fracture" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in medical or injury-related contexts to describe someone who has experienced a broken bone. Example: "During the game, the player sustained a fracture in his leg, which required immediate medical attention."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He sustained a fracture of the fibula.

The New York Times - Sports

Joe DeCamillis, the special-teams coach, sustained a fracture of one of his cervical vertebrae without paralysis.

The New York Times - Sports

A New York Racing Association veterinarian, Celeste Kunz, said it did not appear as if the 5-year-old gelding had sustained a fracture.

The New York Times - Sports

The Islanders announced yesterday that forward Kevin Colley sustained a fracture of the fifth cervical vertebrae in his neck against Washington on Tuesday.

The New York Times

In a significant blow for the Yankees' offense, Judge sustained a fracture in his right wrist that will keep him out at least three weeks.

The New York Times

While O'Brien Jr was fortunate to escape injury when catapulted into the ground, his mount had sustained a fracture to his off-fore and could not be saved.

Independent

On Wednesday, after the Canucks' practice, the team's coach, Alain Vigneault, confirmed that his second-line center, Ryan Kesler, had sustained a fracture in his right foot.

The New York Times

The good news for the Devils was that Stevens, who required 15 stitches to close the gash, had not sustained a fracture or a concussion, Lou Lamoriello, the team president and general manager, said.

The New York Times - Sports

None of the rabbits sustained a fracture of the radius.

Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology

The Moy clubman sustained a fracture after an innocuous challenge while playing football at home.

BBC

All patients who sustained a fracture of the femoral head (AO/OTA 31C) were identified [6].

Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "sustained a fracture", be specific about the bone that was fractured to provide clarity (e.g., "sustained a fracture of the tibia").

Common error

Avoid using incorrect verb tenses with "sustained a fracture". Ensure the tense aligns with the context of the sentence (e.g., use "had sustained a fracture" for past perfect tense).

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sustained a fracture" functions as a verb phrase indicating that someone has experienced a broken bone. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is correct. Examples on Ludwig show the phrase is often used to describe injuries in news and scientific contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

41%

News & Media

40%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "sustained a fracture" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to describe a bone injury. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is correct. It appears most commonly in scientific and news contexts, as demonstrated by the examples found by Ludwig. While "broke a bone" is a simpler alternative, "sustained a fracture" maintains a level of formality suitable for medical reports and news articles. When using this phrase, specificity about the bone involved enhances clarity. Be mindful of using the correct verb tense to accurately reflect the timing of the injury.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

suffered a broken bone

Replaces "sustained" with "suffered" and "fracture" with "broken bone", offering a more general term for the injury.

incurred a fracture

Substitutes "sustained" with "incurred", maintaining a formal tone while denoting the acquisition of the injury.

experienced a bone fracture

Uses "experienced" instead of "sustained" and rephrases "a fracture" to "a bone fracture", offering a slightly more descriptive approach.

developed a fracture

Replaces "sustained" with "developed", which can imply the fracture occurred over time or due to a condition.

had a bone broken

Reorders the sentence to emphasize the bone being broken, offering a passive voice construction.

received a fracture

Substitutes "sustained" with "received", which can suggest the fracture was caused by an external force.

obtained a fracture

Uses "obtained" in place of "sustained", suggesting the fracture was acquired through some action or event.

broke a bone

Simplifies the phrase to a more direct statement of breaking a bone, omitting the term "fracture".

developed a break

Replaces "sustained" with "developed" and "fracture" with "break", implying a gradual or condition-related cause.

suffered a lesion to the bone

Broadens the scope to include any damage to the bone, using "lesion" instead of "fracture" and "suffered" in place of "sustained".

FAQs

What does it mean to say someone "sustained a fracture"?

Saying someone "sustained a fracture" means they experienced a broken bone. It's a common way to describe a bone injury, especially in medical and sports contexts.

Which is more formal, "sustained a fracture" or "broke a bone"?

"Sustained a fracture" is generally considered more formal than "broke a bone". The former is often used in medical reports and news articles, while the latter is more common in everyday conversation.

What are some alternatives to "sustained a fracture"?

Alternatives include "suffered a fracture", "incurred a fracture", or simply "broke a bone", depending on the desired level of formality and context.

Is it correct to say "sustained a break" instead of "sustained a fracture"?

While "sustained a break" is understandable, "sustained a fracture" is more precise and common in medical contexts. "Break" is often used informally, while "fracture" is the preferred medical term.