Which type of fracture has the bone protruding through the skin?

The type of fracture described in the question, where the bone protrudes through the skin, is known as an open fracture. This condition is significant because it not only indicates a break in the bone but also creates a wound in the skin, which can expose the bone and increase the risk of infection. Open fractures require immediate medical attention due to the potential complications associated with the exposure of bone and surrounding tissue.

In contrast, a closed fracture does not break through the skin, meaning the bone remains encapsulated within the body, reducing the risk of infection. A nondisplaced fracture, while perhaps serious, indicates that the bone fragments remain in proper alignment; again, the skin is not broken. A displaced fracture, on the other hand, refers to the alignment of broken bone fragments being altered, but it does not necessarily mean that they protrude through the skin. Thus, it is specifically the open fracture that encapsulates both the concern of the broken bone and the associated skin injury.