All About Bones: 5 of the Most Commonly Broken Bones in the Human Body - Legacy ER

​As you may have learned in anatomy or biology class, there are 206 bones in the human body. Like it or not, they’re all susceptible to breaking if you slip, stumble, or fall in just the right way. Despite that, some bones are broken more often than others. In fact, here are five of the most commonly broken bones in the human body.

Clavicle

Also known as the collarbone, this bone keeps your arms attached to your body through your shoulder joints. Its placement beneath the neck and its elongated shape make it more prone to breaking in the event of trauma to that area. This is by no means classified under minor injuries and illnesses. If the break is severe enough, surgical repair may be required.

Arm

Whether from falling out of a tree or just tripping on the pavement, almost 50% of all broken bones in adults are in the arm. It typically happens if you’re bracing from a fall, and can take several months to heal.

Wrist

As far as arms go, the wrist is the most frequently broken part. This area is home to many small, delicate bones that can be broken from a much less severe impact. The break usually occurs on the thumb-side of the hand and often occurs in sports like cycling, skiing, and snowboarding.

Ankle

Ligament damage often occurs in conjunction with a fractured ankle, which can mean longer healing times. Ankle rolls and breaks typically occur in sports such as soccer, rugby, and football.

Feet and Toes

Believe it or not, approximately 25% of your bones are in your feet. Impact and stress fractures are often the most common cause of breakage in this area of the body.

If you think you’re suffering from a broken bone or any other minor injuries and illnesses, you should seek out an urgent care clinic or emergency services near you immediately. Whether it’s cuts and scrapes or a bout of the flu, urgent care clinics average seven treatment rooms and should be able to treat you.