What is a compound fracture?

A compound fracture, also known as an open fracture, occurs when a broken bone breaks the skin, leading to exposure of the bone and increasing the risk of infection. This external environment can introduce bacteria into the wound, making treatment more complex. In contrast, a fracture that involves only the outer layer of bone refers to a different type of injury and does not define the characteristic of a compound fracture. Similarly, a fracture that does not penetrate the skin is classified as a closed fracture, while one that recovers completely without complications does not pertain to the definition of a compound fracture specifically.