Final answer:
The term "compound" when used to describe skull fractures refers to an open fracture where the broken bone is exposed through a wound in the skin. This type of fracture carries a risk of infection.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term "compound" when used to describe skull fractures refers to an open fracture, which means that the broken bone is exposed to the outside environment through a wound in the skin. In an open fracture, the bone may be broken into several pieces, and there is an increased risk of infection. Other types of skull fractures include linear fractures, comminuted fractures, depressed fractures, and basilar fractures.