The main types of bone fractures are: - Simple or Closed Fracture — If the broken bone remains within the body and does not push into or out of the skin, it is classified as simple or closed. Symptoms include intense pain, swelling & bruising. - Compound or Open Fracture — With this type of fracture, there is a break in the skin where the fracture is located; the bone may have fully punctured the skin—becoming visible—which can cause bleeding and runs the risk of becoming infected. - Incomplete or Partial Fracture — A partial fracture is an incomplete break of a bone whereby it bends and only partially breaks, versus separating into two parts. Because the bone did not break into two or more pieces, the prognosis for this type of fracture is very propitious. After having x-rays, the doctor will determine whether a cast is necessary, or if a splint is all that is needed. - Complete Fracture — In a complete fracture, the bone has completely broken into two or more pieces; this separation can be classified into different categories depending on the position of the breakage: - Transverse (break is perpendicular across the bone) - Longitudinal (break is along the long axis of the bone) - Comminuted (bone is broken into more than two pieces) The type of treatment needed will depend on the type of bone fracture that occurred as well as the severity of the injury. In order to allow the injury to heal properly, a doctor will work to realign and set the broken bone.