What is "comminuted fracture"

Fracture \Frac"ture\ (?; 135), n. [L. fractura, fr. frangere, fractum, to break: cf. F. fracture. See Fraction.]

1. The act of breaking or snapping asunder; rupture; breach.

2. (Surg.) The breaking of a bone.

3. (Min.) The texture of a freshly broken surface; as, a compact fracture; an even, hackly, or conchoidal fracture.

   Comminuted fracture (Surg.), a fracture in which the bone is broken into several parts.

   Complicated fracture (Surg.), a fracture of the bone combined with the lesion of some artery, nervous trunk, or joint.

   Compound fracture (Surg.), a fracture in which there is an open wound from the surface down to the fracture.

   Simple fracture (Surg.), a fracture in which the bone only is ruptured. It does not communicate with the surface by an open wound.

   Syn: Fracture, Rupture.

   Usage: These words denote different kinds of breaking, according to the objects to which they are applied. Fracture is applied to hard substances; as, the fracture of a bone. Rupture is oftener applied to soft substances; as, the rupture of a blood vessel. It is also used figuratively. ``To be an enemy and once to have been a friend, does it not embitter the rupture?''
   --South.

Comminute \Com"mi*nute\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Comminuted; p. pr. & vb. n. Comminuting.] [L. comminutus, p. p. of comminuere to comminute; com- + minuere to lessen. See Minute.] To reduce to minute particles, or to a fine powder; to pulverize; to triturate; to grind; as, to comminute chalk or bones; to comminute food with the teeth.
--Pennant.

Comminuted fracture. See under Fracture.

n. fracture in which the bone is splintered or crushed

1. Redirect bone fracture#Fragments