A localized collection of blood at a fracture site is called a ...

• A. Hematoma
• B. Bony callus
• C. Cervical
• D. Open fracture

Answer: (A)

A localized collection of blood at a fracture site is called a hematoma. When a bone breaks, blood vessels are torn and bleed into the surrounding tissues, and the pooled blood forms a clot that occupies the fracture gap. This hematoma creates a temporary scaffold and brings inflammatory cells and growth factors to the area, setting the stage for healing.

As healing progresses, the hematoma is gradually replaced by a soft callus made of fibrocartilage, which then ossifies into a hard bony callus. The term bony callus refers to that later stage where new bone bridges the fracture. The other terms don’t describe the immediate blood collection: a cervical relates to the neck region, and an open fracture describes a fracture that communicates with the outside via a wound, not a blood collection.