What type of fracture is characterized by the break extending through the entire thickness of the bone?

A fracture that extends through the entire thickness of the bone is classified as a complete fracture. This type of fracture involves a full discontinuity of the bone, meaning that the bone has broken into two or more separate pieces. This can be contrasted with other types of fractures, which do not involve a complete break through the bone's cross-section.

For example, a greenstick fracture typically occurs in children and involves an incomplete fracture where the bone bends and cracks on one side but remains intact on the other. A hairline fracture, also known as a stress fracture, refers to a thin crack in the bone that does not break all the way through, often due to repetitive stress or overuse. A pathological fracture occurs when the bone breaks in response to a disease process, such as cancer or osteoporosis, rather than from a direct trauma, but the break can still be complete or incomplete.

Complete fractures are particularly significant in terms of treatment and healing, as they may require realignment and stabilization to ensure proper recovery, highlighting the importance of accurately identifying them in medical coding and documentation.