What are the characteristics of a displaced fracture?

The characteristics of a displaced fracture involve the misalignment of broken bone fragments. In a displaced fracture, the fragments have moved from their normal anatomical position, which creates a separation or gap between them. This misalignment can impact the healing process and may require interventions such as surgery to realign the bones properly for optimal healing.

In contrast, a non-displaced fracture maintains the alignment of the bone fragments, which is not the case here. Other options, such as a complete intact bone or fractures presenting in a linear pattern, describe conditions that do not apply to displaced fractures. Thus, the presence of separation and misalignment is a defining feature of this type of fracture.