What term best describes a break that does not cause the bone to lose its alignment?

A break that does not cause the bone to lose its alignment is referred to as a nondisplaced fracture. In a nondisplaced fracture, although the bone may be cracked or broken, the fragments remain in their normal anatomical position. This distinction is important in clinical settings because nondisplaced fractures often result in less complexity regarding treatment and healing, as the alignment of the bone is preserved.

In contrast, a displaced fracture involves the ends of the broken bone being separated and misaligned, requiring realignment for proper healing. Compression fractures, which commonly occur in the vertebrae, involve the bone collapsing under pressure but do not define alignment per se. A greenstick fracture is a term primarily used in pediatric cases, where the bone bends and cracks but does not break all the way through, also maintaining some degree of alignment. However, it still typically involves partial breakage and may not apply to all types of fractures in adults. Therefore, the term that best captures a break where alignment is maintained is nondisplaced.