Which term indicates a closed fracture?

A closed fracture is defined as a bone fracture where the skin remains intact and there is no open wound associated with the fracture site. The term "simple fracture" refers specifically to this type of fracture, where the bone is broken but does not pierce through the skin.

In contrast, a compound fracture, also known as an open fracture, involves the bone breaking through the skin, creating a risk for infection and requiring different treatment considerations. An impacted fracture occurs when one bone fragment is driven into another, which can also be a closed fracture, but doesn't specifically denote that the skin remains intact.

Therefore, the term "simple fracture" is precisely used to indicate the condition of a closed fracture, emphasizing that the skin over the fracture remains unbroken. Understanding these distinctions is important in the evaluation and management of fractures in clinical settings.