What characterizes an open fracture?

An open fracture is characterized by the fact that the broken bone has pierced through the skin, creating an open wound at the fracture site. This type of fracture is significant because it poses a higher risk of infection due to the exposure of bone and surrounding tissue to the external environment. The management of open fractures often involves surgical intervention to clean the wound, realign the bone, and stabilize it properly to promote healing while minimizing the risk of complications.

In contrast, an intact skin over the fracture site would indicate a closed fracture, where the bone is broken but remains within the body, covered by unbroken skin. Thus, while the other options describe aspects of fractures, they do not accurately define an open fracture, which is specifically identified by the skin being breached.