Which type of fracture is characterized by the bone breaking into several pieces?

A comminuted fracture is characterized by the bone breaking into several pieces. This type of fracture often results from significant trauma, such as high-impact accidents or falls, where the force applied to the bone exceeds its structural strength. The multiple fragments from a comminuted fracture can complicate treatment and healing, often requiring surgical intervention to realign and stabilize the bone fragments.

In contrast, a simple fracture involves a clean break where the bone remains aligned, while a greenstick fracture is an incomplete fracture commonly seen in children, where the bone bends and cracks but does not break all the way through. A transverse fracture has a horizontal break across the bone shaft. These distinctions help in understanding the nature of the injury and the appropriate treatment protocols.