Certified Electronic Health Records Specialist (CEHRS) Practice Exam

A comminuted fracture is best described as?

1. A clean break without displacement

2. The bone is crushed and/or shattered

3. A fracture involving multiple bones

4. A fracture without any visible line

The correct answer is: The bone is crushed and/or shattered

A comminuted fracture is characterized by the bone being crushed and essentially shattered into multiple fragments. This type of fracture typically occurs from high-impact trauma, such as from a fall or a car accident, where the force exerted on the bone is so great that it does not simply break cleanly but instead results in complex and multiple pieces of bone. This distinction is important in clinical settings because comminuted fractures may require more extensive treatment, such as surgery or orthopedic intervention, to realign and stabilize the fragments, compared to fractures that present as clean breaks or involve fewer broken pieces. The appropriate management of comminuted fractures is crucial for effective healing and recovery, which differs significantly from other fracture types.