Which of the following is considered an open soft tissue injury?

An open soft tissue injury is characterized by a breach in the skin or mucous membranes, allowing pathogens to enter the body and increasing the risk of infection. In this context, amputation qualifies as an open soft tissue injury because it involves the removal of a body part, which naturally results in a clean break of both soft tissue and skin.

Fractures, while they may be open or closed, primarily involve bone and do not classify as soft tissue injuries directly. Contusions (bruises) involve damaged blood vessels beneath the skin due to blunt force but do not result in an open wound, thus falling under closed soft tissue injuries. Sprains involve the stretching or tearing of ligaments without skin damage and are also classified as closed injuries. Therefore, amputation is specifically recognized as an open soft tissue injury due to the combination of soft tissue and skin being affected.