What is a compound fracture?

• A. A hairline fracture
• B. Bone broken and extends past skin
• C. A fracture that involves only cartilage
• D. A fracture where the skin remains intact

Answer: (B)

A compound fracture is an open fracture in which the broken bone pierces the skin, creating a wound and exposing the bone to the external environment. This breach of skin is what makes it more serious than a closed fracture, where the skin remains intact. The exposure increases the risk of infection and often requires urgent medical attention, including wound cleaning, stabilization, and sometimes surgery. The other descriptions don’t fit the situation: a hairline fracture is a tiny crack in the bone, a fracture involving only cartilage isn’t a standard way to describe bone injuries, and a fracture with skin intact describes a closed fracture rather than a compound/open one.