Which fracture is described as a break in the bone with the skin intact?

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Multiple Choice

Which fracture is described as a break in the bone with the skin intact?

The key idea here is identifying fractures by whether the skin is broken. A closed fracture happens when the bone is shattered or cracked but the skin over it stays intact. Because the skin isn’t breached, there’s a lower risk of infection from contamination, though internal injury and swelling can still be significant. In contrast, an open (or compound) fracture involves a wound that communicates with the fracture, exposing bone and increasing infection risk and the need for more urgent wound management. A depressed fracture describes a bone pushed inward (often in the skull) and isn’t defined by skin integrity. So, the description given matches a closed fracture.

The key idea here is identifying fractures by whether the skin is broken. A closed fracture happens when the bone is shattered or cracked but the skin over it stays intact. Because the skin isn’t breached, there’s a lower risk of infection from contamination, though internal injury and swelling can still be significant. In contrast, an open (or compound) fracture involves a wound that communicates with the fracture, exposing bone and increasing infection risk and the need for more urgent wound management. A depressed fracture describes a bone pushed inward (often in the skull) and isn’t defined by skin integrity. So, the description given matches a closed fracture.

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