What occurs during a fracture?

When a fracture occurs, it specifically involves a break in the bone structure due to excessive force or trauma. This can result from a fall, impact, or other types of stress that exceed the bone's strength. The force applied can be sudden and intense, leading to varying types of fracture—such as complete, incomplete, or stress fractures—depending on the severity and nature of the impact.

While the other options refer to different types of injuries, they do not accurately describe a fracture. For example, tearing of soft tissue is associated with sprains or strains rather than bone injuries. A joint displacement refers to a condition known as dislocation, which involves the misalignment of bones at a joint rather than a fracture of the bones themselves. Similarly, contusions pertain to bruising of soft tissue rather than damage to bone. Therefore, the definition of a fracture distinctly relates to the breaking of bone as a result of excessive force, making it the correct choice in this context.