An open fracture is an injury that happens when abroken boneis exposed through the skin.
Often called a compound fracture, an open fracture is treated differently than aclosed fracture.
Early treatment of an open fracture is focused on preventing infection and stabilization of the bone.
DEPT. OF CLINICAL RADIOLOGY, SALISBURY DISTRICT HOSPITAL / Getty Images
Irrigation, washing the bone and the site of the injury, is part of the surgical repair.
This is usually done in the operating room (OR) under anesthesia.
Cleaning the injury in the emergency room without adequate anesthesia may be necessary, but it is often insufficient.
Determining the extent of the injury can be difficult just by looking at an open fracture.
This is especially true in high-energy injuries, including automobile collisions and gunshot wounds.
Often, a larger incision that extends beyond the injury is needed to sufficiently clean the tissue.
One way of assessing whether tissue is viable is based on its blood supply.
Without an adequate blood supply, the tissue would be unlikely to survive and could be susceptible to infection.
The best method of stabilizing bone depends on a number of factors.
Often, anexternal fixatoris used to stabilize bones in open fractures.
The most appropriate antibiotic depends on the punch in and severity of the injury.
These injuries are usually surgically treated within six to 12 hours of the injury.
Prognosis of Open Fractures
The prognosis of an open fracture depends on the severity of the injury.
Overall, healing from an open fracture takes longer than it does with a closed fracture.
Complications are more common after open fractures than they are with closed fractures.
Grade I injuries may heal as well as a closed fracture.
Grade III injuries have a high risk of infection or nonunion and may take much longer for healing.
Open fractures are serious injuries that can lead to complications like infection and delayed bone healing.
Many open fractures will require urgent surgical treatment to clean out and stabilize the bone.
In addition, antibiotic treatment is always necessary to lower the chance of infection.
Even with ideal treatment, the risk of complications associated with open fractures is high.
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