# Compound fractures

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/compound-fractures/51862>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [January 26, 2001, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/compound-fractures/51862 "2001-01-26T14:46:21Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![smoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@smoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smoke)\
**Post date:** [January 26, 2001, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/compound-fractures/51862/1 "2001-01-26T14:46:21Z")

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After receiving the video of Psycho Sid’s leg dangling around after breaking his fibula and tibia, I’ve had broken bones on the mind.

Why do they call it a “compound fracture?” Am I correct in the knowledge that this refers to a break that also breaks the skin? If so, has the problem been “compounded” by the skin break, or is there another reason?

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**Author:** ![dewt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9dc877/32.png) [@dewt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dewt)\
**Post date:** [January 26, 2001, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/compound-fractures/51862/2 "2001-01-26T14:55:09Z")

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I seem to remember something about that when I took the St Johns Ambulance course in college. You are right about the compound fracture breaking the skin and I think you are right about it being called compound because there is tissue trauma as well as bone trauma. It was a while ago that I took that course thought, so don’t quote me on that.