Veterinary Technician Practice Exam

Which type of fracture involves torn skin with exposed bone and subcutaneous tissue?

1. Simple

2. Compound

3. Greenstick

4. Comminuted

The correct answer is: Compound

The correct answer is indeed compound. A compound fracture is characterized by the fracture of the bone that protrudes through the skin, leading to an open wound. This exposure puts the bone and surrounding tissue at a higher risk for infection, making it a more severe type of fracture than a simple fracture, where the bone does not break through the skin. In contrast, a simple fracture is confined beneath the skin, and there is no external wound associated with it, making it less complicated in terms of treatment and recovery. Greenstick fractures involve a partial fracture where one side of the bone is broken while the other side bends, resembling the bending of a green twig. Lastly, comminuted fractures are characterized by the bone being broken into multiple pieces, but they may not necessarily have torn skin or expose subcutaneous tissue. Therefore, the nature of a compound fracture—featuring both an open wound and exposed bone—designates it as the correct answer.