Closed Fracture is defined as?

• A. Broken bone without skin penetration
• B. Broken bone with skin penetration
• C. Dislocation
• D. Hairline fracture

Answer: (A)

A closed fracture means the bone is broken but the skin over the fracture site remains intact. The defining feature is that there is no skin penetration or wound communicating with the fracture. This distinguishes it from an open (compound) fracture, where the skin is broken and bone is exposed. A dislocation is a joint misalignment, not a fracture type. A hairline fracture is simply a fracture pattern and can be closed or open, but the term closed specifically refers to skin integrity, not how the fracture lines look. In practice, with a closed fracture you focus on immobilization and neurovascular checks, while an open fracture requires wound care, antibiotics, and more urgent debridement.