Fractures
Fractures are classified in the following way:
Simple
The bone has broken completely but there is no damage to surrounding tissue.
Complicated
The bone has broken completely and there is damage to surrounding tissue.
Compound
The bone has broken completely, surrounding tissue has been damaged and the skin has been broken.
Greenstick
The bone has only partially broken.
Comminuted
The bone has broken in more than one place. Shattered bones are an extreme example of a comminuted fracture.
Impact
The bone has broken without being displaced as the result of an impact.