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.