What term describes a fracture that involves a break in the bone resulting in multiple pieces?

A fracture that results in multiple pieces is termed a comminuted fracture. This type of fracture occurs when the bone shatters into three or more fragments, which can complicate the healing process and often requires surgical intervention to stabilize the bone fragments.

In contrast, a greenstick fracture is characterized by a partial break in the bone, typically seen in children, where one side of the bone is broken, and the other side is bent. The transverse fracture involves a horizontal break across the bone, while an oblique fracture occurs diagonally along the bone's length. These other types of fractures do not involve the fragmentation seen in comminuted fractures, underlining why comminuted is the correct term for describing a fracture involving multiple pieces.