What type of fracture is characterized by skin puncture through the fracture site?

An open fracture is defined by the presence of a skin puncture at the fracture site, which creates a direct pathway from the environment to the fractured bone. This type of fracture significantly increases the risk of infection due to the exposure of bone and surrounding tissue to external contaminants. The distinction between open and closed fractures is crucial in medical practice as it affects the treatment approach, prognosis, and urgency of intervention.

In contrast, closed fractures do not involve any skin breach and are contained beneath intact skin. Greenstick fractures, which are often seen in children, involve an incomplete fracture where the bone bends but does not fully break, resembling a green twig. Comminuted fractures consist of multiple bone fragments resulting from high-energy trauma, yet they can be open or closed in nature. Thus, the defining feature of skin involvement clearly categorizes this type of fracture as open.