🔍 Key Concepts

• Open vs closed fractures and risk of infection • How bone fragments interact with the skin and surrounding tissue • Relative seriousness of small, fine fractures vs those that break the skin

💭 Think About

• Which type of fracture allows outside germs to directly enter the body through the damaged area? • Which fractures are more likely to involve severe bleeding and damage to surrounding tissues? • Between a small crack in the bone and a break that pierces the skin, which presents greater danger at sea where medical care is limited?

✅ Before You Answer

• Identify which option describes a fracture that breaks through the skin • Consider which fracture has the highest risk of infection and bleeding • Think about which fracture would be hardest to manage on board before reaching professional medical help