Compound Fractures

A compound fracture, also known as an open fracture, occurs when a broken bone pierces through the skin, creating a wound. This type of fracture poses a higher risk of infection due to exposure to the environment. It often results from severe trauma, such as a car accident or a fall from a height. Treatment usually involves surgery to clean the wound, realign the bone, and stabilize it with hardware like plates or screws. Recovery may take longer than with a simple fracture due to the complexity of healing both the bone and the wound.