And for the media "compound fracture" is an archaic term that orthopaedists never use anymore. The correct term in use since the early 1980s, at least, is an "open fracture" as opposed to a "closed fracture".
https://twitter.com/DanielNMiller/status/1364363635045228545
An open fracture is one in which the skin is broken overlying the fracture and the break in the skin communicates with the fracture hematoma, or blood collection from the fracture.
Yes, bone fractures produce hematomas. Not well understood is that bones have a blood supply, and bones bleed when they are fractured.
The question is often asked "Did I break a bone or did I fracture it?" There is no difference. Its the same things. Fracture is the medical term, break is the layperson's term.
An open fracture is also an (almost) absolute indication for surgery on the injury. This is done not necessarily to stabilize the fracture, but to clean it out. The biggest risk of an open fracture is the risk of infection because the fracture is contaminated.
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