What type of fracture results from a bone being splintered or crushed?

A comminuted fracture occurs when a bone is splintered or crushed into multiple pieces. This type of fracture is often the result of high-impact trauma, where the force applied exceeds the bone's ability to withstand it. Because the bone breaks into several fragments, the healing process can be more complex and may require surgical intervention to realign the pieces and stabilize the fracture. In contrast, other types of fractures such as a greenstick fracture, which typically occurs in children and involves an incomplete fracture; a simple fracture, which is a clean break that does not pierce the skin; and a transverse fracture, which has a straight break across the bone, do not involve the significant fragmentation that characterizes a comminuted fracture. Understanding the distinctions between these types of fractures is essential for assessing treatment options and prognosis.