Final answer:
An open fracture, where the bone breaks through the skin, is indeed true. It is severe and poses a risk of infection, often requiring emergency surgery called an open reduction.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that open fractures break through the skin is true. An open fracture, also known as a compound fracture, occurs when at least one end of the broken bone tears through the skin, which carries a high risk of infection due to the exposure to the external environment. This type of fracture is more severe than a closed fracture, where the bone does not break through the skin, and it generally requires emergency medical treatment and often surgery, referred to as an open reduction, to repair the damage and reduce the risk of infection.
Fractures can be classified in various ways: by their complexity, location, and the nature of the break. Types of fractures include transverse, oblique, spiral, comminuted, compression, greenstick, and open fractures. An open fracture can indeed be both open and of another type, such as transverse, if it spans across the width of the bone and breaks the skin.