What type of fracture occurs when a bone breaks due to an underlying disease that has weakened it?

A pathological fracture is characterized by a break in a bone that occurs as a result of an underlying disease or condition that has compromised the integrity of the bone. These underlying issues can include osteoporosis, tumors, or infections that weaken the bones, making them more susceptible to fractures even with minimal or no trauma.

In contrast, other types of fractures listed, such as comminuted fractures, closed fractures, and open fractures, relate more to the circumstances of the fracture itself (e.g., the bone being shattered into multiple pieces, whether the skin is broken or integrity is maintained). However, they do not specifically address fractures that occur due to pre-existing medical conditions. Therefore, the definition of a pathological fracture directly aligns with how and why the bone breaks due to these underlying health concerns, reinforcing that this is the appropriate terminology for a fracture that results from weakened bone due to disease.