What is the term for a fracture where the ends of the bone are not properly aligned?

The term used to describe a fracture in which the ends of the bone are not properly aligned is "displaced." This indicates that the fracture has resulted in a separation of the bone fragments, leading to a misalignment that can occur in various ways, including angling or shifting of the broken pieces. It's important in medical contexts because displacement can affect healing and may require surgical intervention to realign the bone for proper recovery.

In contrast, other terms like "comminuted," refer to a fracture where the bone is broken into several pieces, "open," describes a fracture that breaks through the skin and exposes the bone, while "closed" indicates a fracture that does not penetrate the skin. None of these terms specifically focus on the alignment of the bone fragments, which is what makes "displaced" the correct term in this context.