A spiral fracture is different from a “regular” fracture that many people can sustain from a fall or trauma. Also called a torsion fracture, a spiral fracture can only be caused if a limb (arm or leg) is twisted in such a way that causes the bone to break.
There are certain types of accidents that can cause a spiral fracture, however, they can also be caused by abuse, if an arm or leg is twisted by the abuser.