In which type of fracture does the broken bone end protrude through the skin?

An open fracture is characterized by the broken bone end protruding through the skin, creating a visible wound. This type of fracture increases the risk of infection and complications due to the exposure of bone and underlying tissues to the external environment.

In contrast, a closed fracture does not break through the skin, meaning that while the bone is fractured, the integrity of the skin remains intact. Oblique and transverse fractures refer to the orientation and pattern of the bone fracture itself rather than the relationship of the broken bone to the skin. An oblique fracture occurs at an angle across the bone, while a transverse fracture occurs straight across. Neither specifies the presence of a skin breach. Thus, the definition and implications of an open fracture make it the correct choice for this question.