Hasse's rule states that additional fractures will stop at what?

Hasse's rule pertains to the pattern of fractures that can occur in specific circumstances, especially in traumatic injuries. The principle states that when additional fractures develop in response to an injury, they typically stop propagating at existing fractures in the area. This is because the pre-existing fractures act as barriers; they interrupt the ongoing transmission of stress through the bone.

When a bone sustains a fracture, it creates a zone of weakness in the bone structure. As additional forces act on this bone, they may lead to secondary fractures forming. However, once these secondary forces meet the site of an existing fracture—where the structural integrity of the bone has already been compromised—the stresses cannot effectively continue beyond that point.

Therefore, the presence of an existing fracture fundamentally alters how additional fractures may occur, leading to a focus of stress at those weakened areas. This characteristic makes Hasse's rule particularly relevant in the assessment and analysis of fracture patterns in forensic cases, where understanding the mechanisms of injury is crucial for accurate investigations.