What characterizes a closed fracture?

A closed fracture is characterized by the skin at the injury site remaining intact, meaning there is no break or tear in the skin. This is a key distinction because it separates closed fractures from open fractures, where the skin is compromised, potentially exposing the bone and increasing the risk of infection.

For clarity, while an open fracture involves a break in the skin, which poses additional complications and often requires more complex treatment, a closed fracture, despite being serious, is less likely to lead to immediate external risks. Additionally, closed fractures are not inherently associated with dislocation, nor are they necessarily more severe than open fractures. The classification of fractures primarily focuses on whether the skin is broken or not, which is why the remaining skin integrity is the defining characteristic of a closed fracture.