Which word indicates a possible open fracture in medical records?

The word that indicates a possible open fracture in medical records is "comminuted." A comminuted fracture is characterized by bone being broken into multiple fragments, which can increase the likelihood of the fracture extending through the skin and becoming an open fracture. When assessing medical records, identifying the type of fracture using specific terminology is vital. Comminuted fractures often pose higher risks of complications, such as infection, if the bone ends create a pathway for bacteria.

In contrast, the other terms—puncture, linear, and transverse—describe the nature of the fracture but do not inherently indicate that the fracture may be open. For example, a puncture may refer to a wound through the skin but doesn’t directly relate to the bone's condition. Linear fractures indicate a simple break along the bone's length, while transverse fractures are horizontal breaks across the bone shaft, neither of which automatically suggests an open fracture scenario. Understanding these distinctions is essential when evaluating and coding for fractures in medical documentation.