What is a closed fracture?

A closed fracture is defined as a type of bone fracture where the broken bone does not penetrate or break through the skin. This means that while the bone itself is fractured, there are no visible open wounds or lacerations associated with the injury. The skin remains intact, which can be significant in determining the risk of infection and the general management of the fracture.

Understanding this distinction is crucial in first aid and medical treatment, as closed fractures typically require different approaches and considerations compared to open fractures, where the bone is exposed to the external environment, increasing the risk of complications.

In this context, the other choices do not accurately describe a closed fracture, as they either involve skin penetration, visibility of the fracture in ways that do not align with the medical definition, or healing times that do not specifically relate to the nature of the fracture in question.