When does a simple fracture occur?

A simple fracture occurs when the physical force exerted on the bone is stronger than the bone and the skin overlying the bone is not broken, so the bone is not exposed to air. A simple fracture may also be referred to as a closed fracture.

In addition to simple fractures, several other types of fractures exist. A greenstick fracture occurs when the bone is bent and is most common among children. An oblique fracture is a fracture with a sloped or curved pattern. Impacted fractures have bone ends driven into each other. Comminuted fractures break the bone into several pieces. Transverse fractures occur at a right angle to the bone's axis.