I believe that the most correct is 2, since Gustilo II fractures are mainly covered with Gram (+) by means of a 1st generation Cepha, and it is not a question of prevention but of treatment (it is considered to be contaminated).

I believe that [HIDDEN], since Gustilo II fractures are mainly covered with Gram (+) by means of a 1st generation Cepha, and it is not a question of prevention but of treatment (it is considered to be contaminated).

A 36-year-old man with no past history of interest who, after a high-energy trauma following a fall from a motorcycle, presents with a Gustilo grade II open midshaft fracture of the tibia. Which of the following maneuvers or therapies is most effective for preventing infection?

Immediate intravenous broad-spectrum antibiotherapy.

Exhaustive debridement-wound lavage in the operating room with at least 10 liters of saline.

Urgent stabilization of the fracture by external fixation and early wound closure.

Early wound closure with antiseptics and oxygen therapy at two liters per minute.

Gustilo open fracture classification

In 1976, Gustilo and Anderson refined the early classification system proposed by Veliskasis in 1959. An early study conducted by Gustilo in 1976 showed that primary closures with prophylactic antibiotics of Type I and type II fractures reduced the risk of infection by 84.4%. Meanwhile, early internal fixation and primary closure of the wound in Type III fractures have a greater risk of getting osteomyelitis. However, Type III fractures occur in 60% of all the open fracture cases. Infection of the Type III fractures is observed in 10% to 50% of the time. Therefore, in 1984, Gustilo subclassified Type III fractures into A, B, and C with the aim of guiding the treatment of open fractures, communication and research, and to predict outcomes. Based on the results of the previous studies, Gustilo initially recommended therapeutic irrigation and surgical debridement for all fractures with primary closure for Type I and II fractures; secondary closure without internal fixation for Type III

Prevention of infection in open fractures: Where are the pendulums now?

Soft tissue management and fracture fixation including initial external fixation in Gustilo-Anderson type II and type III open fractures are cornerstones in the treatment but details on timing and type of wound closure, irrigation and debridement, systemic and local antibiotics, antimicrobial-coated implants and the use of Bone Morphogenetic Protein-2 remain controversial. This article looks at current clinical evidence of these items for the management of open fractures. Timing of debridement and wound closure remains critical. Early debridement by an experienced team within 24 h seems adequate while gross contamination, a devascularized limb, a multi-injured patient and compartment syndrome require immediate surgical intervention. Wound closure during the first surgery was shown to result in reduced rates for infections and nonunion. If soft-tissue reconstruction is needed, it should be performed within the first 7 days. Regarding types of irrigation fluid, antiseptic and antibacterial solutions did not prove to be superior to saline. High pressure irrigation has not been demonstrated to be beneficial whereas antibiotic administration as soon as possible has been proven to be favorable. Administration of more than 72 h was not superior to shorter systemic antibiotic intervals. For Gustilo-Anderson type I and II, broad spectrum antibiotic therapy is reasonable. Additional aminoglycosides for broader coverage are recommended in Gustilo-Anderson type III fractures. There is newer literature on the beneficial effects of the use of local antibiotics, e.g. by antibiotic beads. Coating of internal fixation devices is a modern approach to improve infection prophylaxis and gentamicin-coated implants have been demonstrated to be safe in clinical application. Vacuum assisted closure (VAC) could not evidence negative pressure wound therapy to reduce infection risk, improve self-rated disability or quality of life in open fractures, however, enhance treatment costs. Recombinant human bone morphogenetic proteins (rhBMP)-2 showed promising data in Gustilo-Anderson type III open tibial shaft fractures with lower rates of invasive secondary procedures. In conclusion, there is evidence for thorough debridement and irrigation with saline, early soft tissue coverage and the use of systemic and local antibiotics. Except for a short-term soft tissue coverage VAC seems not to be beneficial and rhBMP-2 is an additional tool in Gustilo-Anderson type III open fractures.

Routine use of wound vacuum-assisted closure does not allow coverage delay for open tibia fractures.

Prevention of infection is a paramount concern after open fracture of the tibia. Previous studies have shown that delay in soft-tissue coverage may raise infection rates. Use of vacuum-assisted closure devices in open fracture wounds has become common. The authors analyzed whether use of the vacuum-assisted closure sponge can allow delay of flap coverage for open tibia fractures without an increase in infection rate. The authors identified 38 patients with Gustilo grade IIIB open fractures from their trauma registry with a minimum 1-year follow-up. From the medical record, the authors collected information on the time from injury to definitive wound coverage, type of fixation, type of coverage, and demographics. Infected patients were defined as patients that required surgical debridement after coverage with positive cultures. Patients who underwent definitive coverage within 7 days had a significantly decreased rate of infection (12.5 percent) compared with patients who had coverage at 7 days or more after injury (57 percent) (p < 0.008). The overall infection rate was 36 percent with routine use of the vacuum-assisted closure sponge. Patients who developed infection had a greater mean time to coverage than patients who did not develop infection (8.9 days versus 4.8 days; p < 0.029). Routine use of vacuum-assisted closure with open tibia fractures is safe and provides a good primary dressing over open wounds. For Gustilo grade IIIB tibia fractures, vacuum-assisted closure therapy does not allow delay of soft-tissue coverage past 7 days without a concomitant elevation in infection rates.

Acute Management of Open Fractures: An Evidence-Based Review.

Open fractures are complex injuries associated with high morbidity and mortality. Despite advances made in fracture care and infection prevention, open fractures remain a therapeutic challenge with varying levels of evidence to support some of the most commonly used practices. Additionally, a significant number of studies on this topic have focused on open tibial fractures. A systematic approach to evaluation and management should begin as soon as immediate life-threatening conditions have been stabilized. The Gustilo classification is arguably the most widely used method for characterizing open fractures. A first-generation cephalosporin should be administered as soon as possible. The optimal duration of antibiotics has not been well defined, but they should be continued for 24 hours. There is inconclusive evidence to support either extending the duration or broadening the antibiotic prophylaxis for type Gustilo type III wounds. Urgent surgical irrigation and debridement remains the mainstay of infection eradication, although questions persist regarding the optimal irrigation solution, volume, and delivery pressure. Wound sampling has a poor predictive value in determining subsequent infections. Early wound closure is recommended to minimize the risk of infection and cannot be substituted by negative-pressure wound therapy. Antibiotic-impregnated devices can be important adjuncts to systemic antibiotics in highly contaminated or comminuted injuries. Multiple fixation techniques are available, each having advantages and disadvantages. It is extremely important to maintain a high index of suspicion for compartment syndrome, especially in the setting of high-energy trauma.

Open fracture

An open fracture, also called a compound fracture, is a type of bone fracture in orthopedics that is frequently caused by high energy trauma. It is a bone fracture associated with a break in the skin continuity which can cause complications such as infection, malunion, and nonunion. Gustilo open fracture classification is the most commonly used method to classify open fractures, to guide treatment and to predict clinical outcomes. Advanced trauma life support is the first line of action in dealing with open fractures and to rule out other life-threatening condition in cases of trauma. Cephalosporins are generally the first line of antibiotics. The antibiotics are continued for 24 hours to minimize the risk of infections. Therapeutic irrigation, wound debridement, early wound closure and bone fixation are the main management of open fractures. All these actions aimed to reduce the risk of infections. Causes

Operative Treatment and Soft Tissue Management of Open Distal Tibial Fractures - Pitfalls and Results.

Open tibial fractures usually result from high-energy trauma. Severe soft-tissue injuries are often combined with open fractures of the distal tibia. A consecutive series of 42 patients with open extraarticular distal tibial fractures (Gustilo I-IIIc) operated on between July 2006 and February 2009 were included in the study reported here. We performed open reduction and internal fixation for the Gustilo I cases. Soft tissue was closed directly after antibiotic beads had been temporarily applied. For the Gustilo II and III cases, our treatment protocol included soft-tissue debridement of all devitalized soft tissue and bone fragments, pulsatile jet irrigation, and external stabilization. Soft tissue was temporarily closed with Epigard_ after the application of antibiotic beads. A second-look operation was scheduled after 3-5 days. Gustilo II patients needed an average of 1.1 (0-3) revisions until wound closure, compared to the average of 2.1 revisions necessary for the Gustilo III patients. It took 5.6 (0-16) days to obtain definitive wound closure in the Gustilo II patients and 9.9 (3-28) days in the Gustilo III patients. Skin grafting was sufficient for definitive softtissue closure in ten cases, local flaps in eight cases, and free musculocutaneous flaps were needed in six cases. Gustilo II patients with primary wound closure remained hospitalized for 11 days, while patients with secondary wound closure stayed in hospital for an average of 20 days. Our early results concerning infection rate, number of reoperations, and time to bony consolidation can be compared with other studies. Functional results will have to be evaluated at clinical follow-up.

[Acute therapeutic measures for limb salvage Part 2 : Debridement, lavage techniques and anti-infectious strategies].

The quality of the primary care of Gustilo-Anderson (GA) type IIIB and IIIC extremity injuries is crucial to the success of the limb salvage procedure. This article provides a compilation of consistent, but often controversially discussed aspects of initial debridement, modern techniques of lavage and wound closure, in addition to current issues on the application of antibiotics and antiseptics, based on our own experiences and the latest literature. The following points should be stressed. Severe extremity injuries with gross contamination (GA IIIA, B, and C) will still be associated with an infection rate of up to 60 %. The initial debridement should be performed as soon as an experienced trauma surgeon is available. Tissue that is definitely avital will have to be removed, whereas traumatized but potentially surviving tissue will have to be re-evaluated during a second-look operation after 36-48 h. Given a high enough level of contamination, biofilms will form after as few as 6 h. The perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis has to be initiated early and should be continued for at least 24 h (GA I/II) or up to 5 days (GA III). In cases of bacterial contamination, wound irrigation will be useful with additives such as polyhexanide, octenidine or superoxidized water. Rinsing of the wound should be performed with 3-9 L and only slight manual pressure (no jet lavage). The definitive primary closure of a wound should be achieved in the initial operation, but only in the case of certain "decontamination" and overall vitality of the wound (GA I and II). In the presence of high-grade injuries, a temporary vacuum sealing technique can be used until the earliest possible definitive plastic surgical wound closure.

Open fracture

Wound management Early wound closure is recommended to reduce the rates hospital-acquired infection. For Grade I and II fractures, wound can be healed by secondary intention or through primary closure. There is conflicting evident to suggest the effectiveness of Negative-pressure wound therapy (vacuum dressing), with several sources citing a decreased risk in infection, and others suggesting no proven benefit.

Does delay in surgical debridement increase the risk of infection in open tibia fractures in Saudi patients? A retrospective cohort study.

Infection is the most common and devastating complication of open fractures, with a reported incidence of 3-40%. Tibia bone along its anteromedial surface has relatively thin soft tissue coverage; hence the open tibia fracture incidence rate ranges from 49.4% to 63.2%. Open fractures are usually classified based on the Gustilo & Anderson classification system, which is used by surgeons as an index for the severity of an injury and as a prognostic tool. Our current practice follows the 6-h rule of irrigation and debridement (I&D). Nevertheless, there is little support for this opinion in the literature. Our study concentrates on identifying the risk factors of infection in open tibia fractures and comparing the rate of infection if surgical irrigation and debridement was delayed. The medical records of 389 patients with open fractures were reviewed. Of these cases, 113 patients with open tibia fracture who presented to our Hospital from the period 1997 to 2008 fit the inclusion criteria and were included in a retrospective cohort study. A total of 113 tibia fractures were reviewed, with an average patient age of 31.70 years; 87.1% of the fractures were high-energy fractures, and the most common mechanism of injury was a motor vehicle accident (62.4%). The data analysis revealed no difference in overall infectious outcome when comparing initial I&D performed within 6 h to when I&D was performed after 6 h (<iP</i = 0.201). The data analysis showed a significant relationship between infection and wound closure in first surgery in both univariate and multivariate analysis (<iP</i = 0.0003 and <iP</i = 0.014), respectively. This study showed no significant evidence to support the 6-h rule, but it did demonstrate a significant relationship between the Gustilo stage and infection, as well as an increased infection rate if external fixation was used or if the wound was left open during the initial irrigation and debridement. We believe that more studies are required to identify the relationship between infection and the delay in irrigation and debridement; a meta-analysis of the currently available data may provide an answer to this question.

[Effect of Negative Pressure Wound Therapy on Infectious Complications in Grade III Open Fractures].

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY Grade III open fractures are associated with infectious complications in 25-66% of injuries. Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) applied to an injured soft tissue coverage provides an impermeable barrier between the injured structures and the external environment, in addition to early secretion draining and a positive effect on the site of application. All this also prevents secondary bacterial contamination. The objective of the study was to compare the results of treatment methods in view of infectious complications in patients with soft tissue injury in grade-III open fractures managed either by NPWT and primary closure or by covering with combined dressing fabric (COM) in combination with continual wound lavage. MATERIAL AND METHODS This retrospective study comprised 77 patients with 80 grade III open fractures treated in the years 2008-2012; of these, 39 patients with 41 fractures met the inclusion criteria and were finally evaluated. The patients were divided into two groups. The control group included 19 patients with 20 fractures treated by the standard surgical procedure using stabilisation with an external fixator or intramedullary nail, thorough soft tissue debridement, continual wound lavage and suture of skin lesions or using a primary coverage of the defect with COM. The trial group consisted of 20 patients with 21 fractures treated according to the same principle, but NPWT was applied to injured soft tissue coverage first and skin suture or any other type of skin defect coverage was carried out when the healing process was good and bacteriological findings were negative. The results of both methods were evaluated based on the following criteria: development of superficial or deep infection in the wound, interval to negative bacteriological findings and osteomyelitis rate. The results were analysed by Fisher's exact test and the Man Whitney U test. RESULTS Infectious complications were recorded in a total of 15 (37%) fractures: 11 (55%) in the control group and four (19.1%) in the trial group (p = 0.025). Recurrent infection was observed in five control group fractures (25%) and in none of the trial group fractures (p = 0.021). Osteomyelitis was found only in two control group fractures. The average interval before negative bacteriological results were obtained was 22 days in the control group and 12 days in the trial group (p = 0.001). DISCUSSION The NPWT use as a temporary coverage of soft tissue defects in open fractures results in a significant reduction of infectious complications, as shown by many relevant studies including this study. In comparison with Gopal's "fix and flap" concept, the NPWT in our patient group had slightly higher incidence of infectious complications (15.4% versus 19.1%). However, these results can be achieved only if a specialist in reconstructive surgery and appropriate technical facilities are readily available. If this is not possible, then the NPWT, in comparison with conventional methods, provides the best possible way of temporary protection for an injured soft tissue coverage. CONCLUSIONS Application of NPWT within the primary treatment of injured soft tissue coverage in grade III open fractures results in a statistically significant reduction of bacterial contamination at the site of injury, as well as a reduction of the subsequent incidence of infectious complications. Primary application of NPWT also significantly reduced the risk of recurrent infection. open fracture, negative pressure wound therapy, continual wound lavage, infection.

[Open fractures of the tibia in the adult: surgical treatment and complications].

Open tibial shaft fractures represent high-energy trauma and are associated with a substantial risk of complications. Management is an emergency, and the first steps in treatment include antibiotic prophylaxis, tetanus booster, surgical debridement, irrigation of the wound and stabilization of the fracture. The Gustilo and Anderson classification helps to guide definitive treatment. Intramedullary nailing is the surgical technique of choice. An indirect approach utilizing external fixation is recommended for Gustilo IIIB and IIIC fractures. The most prevalent complications are compartment syndrome (10%), infection (2%-40% without antibiotics according to Gustilo grading, most notably in the presence of vascular lesions), aseptic nonunion (23%), venous thromboembolism (60% without prevention) and anterior knee pain (>50%).

[Primary soft tissue management in open fracture].

Debridement of soft tissue and bone in an open fracture situation to minimize infection risk and achieve primary skin closure, or to provide conditions for early soft tissue coverage. Indications are Gustilo-Anderson grade I-III A-C open fractures. Contraindications are injuries requiring amputation, burns, and life-threatening injuries which make appropriate treatment temporarily impossible. Removal of gross contamination and macroscopic contaminants; debridement of the wound; complete resection of contaminated and dirty tissue; sparse step-by-step resection of contaminated or non-vital wound and bone margins until vital, bleeding tissue begins; low-pressure irrigation with isotonic irrigation fluid; diagnostic biopsies for microbiological testing; reduction of dead space by interpositioning of muscle or cement spacers loaded with local antibiotics; primary wound closure if tension-free closure possible; otherwise, if resources and knowhow permit and satisfactory clean debridement was achieved, local flap; if flap impossible, debridement not satisfactory, secondary tissue necrosis likely, potential remaining contamination or contamination with fecal matter, then vacuum-assisted closure therapy. Wound inspection on the second postoperative day, generous indication for second-look surgery after 36-48 h, wound inspection on the second postoperative day, wound inspection every other day, primary antibiotic prophylaxis with a first- or second-generation cephalosporin (e. g., cefuroxime), and adaptation of antibiotic therapy according to susceptibility screening. Infection rates of 2-4.7% are reported for immediate primary wound closure in Gustilo-Anderson grade I, II, and III A open fractures. For Gustilo-Anderson grade III B, good wound healing, bony consolidation, and no need for secondary surgery was reported in 86.7% when primary wound closure was achieved.

Controversies in Initial Management of Open Fractures.

Treatment of open fractures continues to be a challenge for orthopedic and trauma surgeons, and early treatment recommendations, which persist in the literature for decades, often do not have supporting data. This is a critical review of the literature surrounding controversies in the initial management of open fractures. It also focuses on the utility of negative pressure dressings in the care of associated complex wounds. Studies were selected based on their relevance to the treatment of open fractures. A total of 40 studies were included. The following topics were critically discussed: timing of initial debridement, antibiotic coverage, utility of obtaining cultures, and timing of wound closure. The majority of open fractures require urgent, not emergent, irrigation and debridement. Antibiotics are essential in preventing infection in open fractures. Timely wound closure after all necrotic tissue has been debrided decreases complications in open fractures. Finally, negative pressure wound therapy has dramatically changed the care of associated complex wounds.

Timing of wound closure in open fractures based on cultures obtained after debridement.

The timing of wound closure in open fractures has remained an inexact science. Numerous recommendations have been made for the management of these injuries regarding the optimal time to perform competent wound closure, with all advice based on subjective parameters. The purpose of this study was to determine the utility of a prospective protocol with use of wound cultures obtained after irrigation and debridement as a guide to the timing of wound closure following an open fracture of an extremity. Four hundred and twenty-two open fractures had emergency irrigation and debridement, fracture stabilization, and open wound management. Wound cultures were obtained for aerobic and anaerobic analysis following debridement. At forty-eight hours after debridement, patients were again returned to surgery. If the initial culture results were positive, a repeat irrigation and debridement was carried out, and additional cultures were obtained after debridement. This procedure was repeated, and the wound was not closed until negative culture results were achieved. Of the 422 open fractures, 346 were available for long-term follow-up. The overall deep infection rate was 4.3%. Gustilo Type-II fractures had a deep infection rate of 4%, and Type-III fractures had an infection rate of 5.7%. Type-III fractures demonstrated differences among the fracture patterns within this type, as infection developed in 1.8% of Type-IIIA injuries, 10.6% of Type-IIIB fractures, and 20% of Type-IIIC fractures. Fractures requiring multiple debridement procedures and those in patients with diabetes or an increased body mass index demonstrated higher rates of infection. With the numbers studied, fractures in which the wound was closed in the presence of positive cultures (a protocol breach) did not have a significantly increased risk of deep infection (p = 0.0501). The use of this standardized protocol was shown to achieve a very low rate of deep infection compared with historical controls. An increased number of irrigation and debridement procedures are required to achieve this improved outcome. Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions to Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Gustilo open fracture classification

Although this classification system has a fairly good ability to predict fracture outcomes, it is not perfect. The Gustillo classification does not take into account the viability and death of soft tissues over time which can affect the outcome of the injury. Besides, the number of the underlying medical illnesses of the patient also affects the outcome. Whether the timing of wound debridement, soft tissue coverage, and bone have any benefits on the outcome is also questionable. Besides, different types of bones have different rates of infection because they are covered by different amounts of soft tissues. Gustilo initially does not recommend early wound closure and early fixation for Grade III fractures. However, newer studies have shown that early wound closure and early fixation reduces infection rates, promotes fracture healing and early restoration of function. Therefore, assessment of all open fractures should include the mechanism of injury, the appearance of soft tissues, the

Open fracture

There has been no agreement on the optimal duration of antibiotics. Studies has shown that there is no additional benefits of risk of infection when giving antibiotics for one day, when compared to giving antibiotics for three days or five days. However, at present, there is only low to moderate evidence for this and more research is needed. Some authors recommended that antibiotics to be given for three doses for Gustilo Grade I fractures, for one day after wound closure in Grade II fractures, three days in Grade IIIA fractures, and three days after wound closure for Grade IIIB and IIIC.

Early appropriate care

History Early total care (ETC) became widespread in the 1980s, when studies showed early definitive fixation of long bone fractures lead to better outcomes, with a reduction in incidence of secondary ARDS, fat embolism and sepsis. Subsequent studies showed that in the unstable patient, long operations lead to a 'second hit' which actually worsened mortality outcomes. A philosophy of damage control orthopaedics (DCO) was proposed in 2000, aiming to prevent early death in a critically wounded patient via stabilization and not definitive fixation, often with the use of external fixation systems. The term early appropriate care was first proposed in 2013 as an evolution of DCO, with a focus on resuscitation rather than injury severity score. See also Damage control surgery References Traumatology Trauma surgery

Comparison of delayed and primary wound closure in the treatment of open tibial fractures.

Primary wound closure in the management of open tibial fractures has generally been discouraged. Several prior studies suggest that infections are not caused by the initial contamination, but are instead the result of organisms acquired in the hospital. Primary wound closure after adequate wound care and fracture stabilisation could therefore be considered a reasonable option. We analysed 95 patients with open tibial fractures (Gustilo-Anderson type 1 to 3A) treated with primary fracture stabilisation and either delayed wound closure (group I) or primary wound closure (group II), with a minimum follow-up of 12 months. Group I included 46 patients with a mean age of 30.2 years (16-56), and a mean follow-up of 13.5 months (12-18). Group II included 49 patients with a mean age of 33.4 (18-69), and a mean follow up of 13.7 months (12-16). One infection developed in group I (2%), and two infections developed in group II (4%). This difference was not found to have any statistical significance. Our results support other recent reports that the infection rate is not increased following primary wound closure after thorough debridement of less severe open fractures. The length of stay following primary closure (group II) was significantly shorter, and that should result in substantially more cost effective care of these serious injuries. We conclude that primary wound closure is a safe option in properly selected cases. Prospective multi-centre studies are needed to further evaluate the safety and efficacy of this treatment alternative.

Open fracture

Wound irrigation There has been no agreement for the optimal solution for wound irrigation. Studies found out that there is no difference in infection rates by using normal saline or other various forms of water (distilled, boiled, or tap). There is also no difference in infection rates when using normal saline with castile soap compared with normal saline together with bacitracin in irrigating wounds. Studies also have shown that there is no difference in infection rates using low pressure pulse lavage (LPPL) when compared to high pressure pulse lavage (HPPL) in irrigating wounds. Optimal amount of fluid for irrigation also has not been established. It is recommended that the amount of irrigation solution to be determined by the severity of the fracture, with 3 litres for type I fractures, 6 litres for type II fractures, and 9 litres for type III fractures.

An Updated Evidence About the Role of Timing to Debridement on Infection Rate of Open Tibial Fractures: A Meta-Analysis.

Background and objectives Recent experimental and clinical evidence supporting early debridement for open fractures has been questioned. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to summarize and evaluate the current evidence regarding the timing of surgical debridement of open tibial fractures. Methods A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted on studies compared the infection rate following early versus late debridement of open tibial fractures. We performed an online, bibliographic, search through the period from January 2000 to June 2020 in five bibliographic databases: Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Medline via PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and EBSCO host. Results Nine retrospective studies and six prospective studies were included in the present meta-analysis study. The pooled effect estimate showed no statistically significant difference between early and late debridement regarding the overall infection rate (RD 0.02, 95% CI [0 - 0.04], p = 0.94); there was no significant heterogeneity in the pooled estimate (I2 = 5%). The subgroup analysis showed that the non-significant difference was consistent regardless of the definition of early and late timing to debridement. Likewise, the pooled effect estimate showed no statistically significant difference between early and late debridement regarding the deep infection rate (RD 0.01, 95% CI [-0.01 - 0.03], p = 0.92); there was no significant heterogeneity in the pooled estimate (I2 = 0%). The pooled effect estimate showed no statistically significant difference between early and late debridement regarding the nonunion rate as well. The funnel lots showed little evidence of asymmetry by visual inspection. Conclusion In conclusion, the current evidence demonstrates no impact of timing to surgical debridement on the infection rate following open tibial fractures in the adult population. Our results demonstrated that the risks of infection, deep infection, and nonunion were similar between patients who underwent delayed versus early debridement.

The Effect of Delayed Surgical Debridement in the Management of Open Tibial Fractures: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Open tibial fractures are complex injuries with variable outcomes that significantly impact patients' lives. Surgical debridement is paramount in preventing detrimental complications such as infection and non-union; however, the exact timing of debridement remains a topic of great controversy. The aim of this study is to evaluate the association between timing of surgical debridement and outcomes such as infection and non-union in open tibial fractures. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature to capture studies evaluating the association between timing of initial surgical debridement and infection or non-union, or other reported outcomes. We searched the MEDLINE, PubMed Central, EMBASE, SCOPUS, Cochrane Central and Web of Science electronic databases. Our methodology was guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement and the Cochrane handbook for systematic reviews of interventions. The systematic review included 20 studies with 10,032 open tibial fractures. The overall infection rate was 14.3% (314 out of 2193) and the overall non-union rate 14.2% (116 out of 817). We did not find any statistically significant association between delayed debridement and infection rate (OR = 0.87; 95% CI, 0.68 to 1.11; <ip</i = 0.23) or non-union rate (OR = 0.70; 95% CI, 0.42 to 1.15; <ip</i = 0.13). These findings did not change when we accounted for the effect of different time thresholds used for defining early and late debridement, nor with the Gustilo-Anderson classification or varying study characteristics. The findings of this meta-analysis support that delayed surgical debridement does not increase the infection or non-union rates in open tibial fracture injuries. Consequently, we propose that a reasonable delay in the initial debridement is acceptable to ensure that optimal management conditions are in place, such that the availability of surgical expertise, skilled staff and equipment are prioritised over getting to surgery rapidly. We recommend changing the standard guidance around timing for performing surgical debridement to 'as soon as reasonably possible, once appropriate personnel and equipment are available; ideally within 24-h'.

Timing of antibiotic prophylaxis in tourniquet surgery.

It is customary to administer prophylactic antibiotics before exsanguination of the limb and inflation of a tourniquet in extremity surgery. To compare the clinical outcome in lower limb operations when prophylactic antibiotics were administered before versus after limb exsanguination and tourniquet inflation, we randomized patients to the administration of prophylactic antibiotics 5 minutes before exsanguination and inflation of the tourniquet (ABT) and administration of prophylactic antibiotics 1 minute after inflation of the tourniquet (AAT). A total of 106 patients completed the study, including 76 males (71.7%) and 30 females (28.3%). Of the 106 patients, 54 (50.9%) received antibiotics before tourniquet inflation (ABT) and 52 (49.1%) after tourniquet inflation (AAT). Most of the operations (71.7%) involved open reduction and internal fixation of fractures. In the ABT group, 8 wounds (14.8%) developed postoperative infection. In the AAT group, 2 (3.9%) developed wound infection (P = .031). The mean period to wound healing in the ABT group was 4.0 ± 2.3 weeks and was 3.0 ± 0.5 weeks in the AAT group (P = .002). Overall, 100% of the patients in the AAT group were satisfied compared with 85.2% in the ABT group. The difference was statistically significant (P = .005). The results of our study suggest that administration of prophylactic antibiotics before exsanguination and inflation of a lower extremity tourniquet does not give better results than administration of the antibiotic shortly after inflation of the tourniquet.

Surgery_Schwartz

are low energy and wounds are usually less than 1 cm.• Type II injuries have a wound length of 2 to 10 cm with mod-erate soft tissue damage and wound contamination.1ABCDEFFigure 43-1. Types of fractures. A. Normal bone. B. Transverse. C. Oblique. D. Spiral. E. Segmental. F. Comminuted.Figure 43-2. Transverse tibia fracture and segmental fibula fracture.Brunicardi_Ch43_p1879-p1924.indd 188122/02/19 10:40 AM 1882SPECIFIC CONSIDERATIONSPART II• Type III injuries are high-energy wounds usually greater than 10 cm in length with extensive muscle devitalization. The wound is highly contaminated with extensive soft tissue damage.These injuries require immediate administration of antibi-otics and irrigation and debridement of the wound. The goal of the treatment is to achieve fracture healing and to prevent wound infections and osteomyelitis. They are frequently associated with injuries to surrounding vessels and nerves, which must be addressed as well. When the wound is contami-nated, an

The management of open tibial fractures in children: a retrospective case series of eight years' experience of 61 cases at a paediatric specialist centre.

Following the introduction of national standards in 2009, most major paediatric trauma is now triaged to specialist units offering combined orthopaedic and plastic surgical expertise. We investigated the management of open tibia fractures at a paediatric trauma centre, primarily reporting the risk of infection and rate of union. A retrospective review was performed on 61 children who between 2007 and 2015 presented with an open tibia fracture. Their mean age was nine years (2 to 16) and the median follow-up was ten months (interquartile range 5 to 18). Management involved IV antibiotics, early debridement and combined treatment of the skeletal and soft-tissue injuries in line with standards proposed by the British Orthopaedic Association. There were 36 diaphyseal fractures and 25 distal tibial fractures. Of the distal fractures, eight involved the physis. Motor vehicle collisions accounted for two thirds of the injuries and 38 patients (62%) arrived outside of normal working hours. The initial method of stabilisation comprised: casting in nine cases (15%); elastic nailing in 19 (31%); Kirschner (K)-wiring in 13 (21%); intramedullary nailing in one (2%); open reduction and plate fixation in four (7%); and external fixation in 15 (25%). Wound management comprised: primary wound closure in 24 (39%), delayed primary closure in 11 (18%), split skin graft (SSG) in eight (13%), local flap with SSG in 17 (28%) and a free flap in one. A total of 43 fractures (70%) were Gustilo-Anderson grade III. There were four superficial (6.6%) and three (4.9%) deep infections. Two deep infections occurred following open reduction and plate fixation and the third after K-wire fixation of a distal fracture. No patient who underwent primary wound closure developed an infection. All the fractures united, although nine patients required revision of a mono-lateral to circular frame for delayed union (two) or for altered alignment or length (seven). The mean time to union was two weeks longer in diaphyseal fractures than in distal fractures (13 weeks <iversus</i 10.8 weeks, p <i=</i 0.016). Children aged > 12 years had a significantly longer time to union than those aged < 12 years (16.3 weeks <iversus</i 11.4 weeks, p <i=</i 0.045). The length of stay in hospital for patients with a Gustilo-Anderson grade IIIB fracture was twice as long as for less severe injuries. Fractures in children heal better than those in adults. Based on our experience of deep infection we discourage the use of internal fixation with a plate for open tibial fractures in children. We advocate aggressive initial wound debridement in theatre with early definitive combined orthopaedic and plastic surgery in order to obtain skeletal stabilisation and soft-tissue cover. Cite this article: <iBone Joint J</i 2017;99-B:544-53.

[External fixator in the prevention and treatment of infections (author's transl)].

Although postoperative infection constitutes a serious complication after osteosyntheses of closed fractures and in the course of open fractures, application of the known principles permits the adaption of an optimistic attitude towards treatment. Stability of osteosynthesis preferably with external fixation, open-wound treatment with regular control of the wound, in special cases suction-irrigation drainage, local application of PMMA beat chains and short-term, high-dosed systemic antibiotic therapy after antibiogram are amongst the most important points to be taken into consideration.

Treatment of infection with improved pulsed lavage.

To develop a more effective surgical lavage technique to improve the efficacy of treatment for infections after a tibia/fibula fracture. A retrospective analysis was performed on 46 patients who received pulsed lavage with a side-hole double-valve lavage tube in the Second Hospital of Tangshan, Tangshan, China. Patients with the same injury treated with conventional lavage techniques in the same period were used as controls. The lavage success rate and the infection cure rate were analyzed to evaluate this therapy. All patients showed wound healing by first intention, and there was no recurrence during the follow-up period of > 12 months. Compared to the control group, the group that received pulsed lavage showed higher lavage success rates and cure rates. Pulsed lavage therapy with a side-hole double-valve lavage tube can improve the efficacy of treatment infections after tibia/fibula fractures and constitutes an effective modification to conventional lavage techniques. .

Impact of negative pressure wound therapy on open diaphyseal tibial fractures: A prospective randomized trial.

Open tibial fractures are associated with a high incidence of mainly osteomyelitis. Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) is a novel form of treatment that uses subatmospheric pressure to effect early wound healing. To determine the effect of NPWT on incidence of deep infections/osteomyelitis after open tibial fractures using a prospective randomized study design. Ninety-three open tibial fractures were randomized into two groups receiving NPWT and the second group undergoing periodic irrigation, cleaning and debridement respectively. The wounds were closed or covered on shrinkage in size and sufficient granulation. Evidence of infection was sought during the course of treatment and follow up. Also serial cultures were sent every time the wound was cleaned. Patients in the control group developed a total of 11 infections (22%) as opposed to only 2 (4.6%) in the NPWT group (<ip</i < 0.05). The relative risk was 5.5 (95% confidence interval) suggesting patients who received NPWT were 5.5 times less likely to develop infection. Twenty patients developed positive growth when samples were sent for culture with 3 (6.9%) in the NPWT group and 17 (34%) in the control group (<ip</i < 0.05). Only 5 patients (25%) went on the develop osteomyelitis, all being a part of the control group. Thus negative pressure wound therapy is indeed beneficial for preventing the incidence of both acute infections and osteomyelitis in open fractures. However a significant difference was not seen in the time required for the wound to be ready for delayed primary closure or coverage.

Management of Gustilo-Anderson Type II and IIIA Open Long Bone Fractures in Children: Which Wounds Require a Second Washout?

Timing of wound closure in pediatric Gustilo-Anderson grade II and IIIA open long bone fracture remain controversial. Our aims are (1) to determine the proportion of patients with these fractures whose wounds can be treated with early primary wound closure (EPWC); (2) to compare the complication rates between EPWC and delayed wound closure (DWC); and (3) to determine factors associated with higher likelihood of undergoing DWC. At a level-1 pediatric trauma center, 96 patients (younger than 18 y) who sustained Gustilo-Anderson grade II and IIIA open long bone fractures (humerus, radius, ulnar, femur, or tibia) within a 10-year period (2006-2016) were included for this study. Decision for EPWC versus DWC was at the discretion of the attending surgeon at time of initial surgery. Data collection was via retrospective review of charts and radiographs. Particular attention was paid to the incidence of return to operating room rate, nonunion, compartment syndrome, and infection. Median follow-up duration was 7.5 months (interquartile range: 3.6 to 25.3 mo). All patients were followed-up at least until bony union. Overall, 81% of patients (78/96) underwent EPWC. Of the grade II fractures, 86% underwent EPWC. Four patients (5%) in the EPWC group and 1 patient (6%) in the DWC group had at least 1 complication. When controlling for mechanism of injury, Gustilo-Anderson fracture type and age, there was no difference in rate of complications between the EPWC and the DWC groups. Grade IIIA fractures and being involved in a motor vehicle accident were factors associated with a higher likelihood of undergoing DWC. The majority of grade II and IIIA pediatric long bone fractures may be safely treatable with EPWC without additional washouts. Future prospective research is required to further define the subgroups that can benefit from DWC. Level IV-therapeutic, case cohort study.

[Prevention of infection in the current treatment of open fractures: an evidence-based systematic analysis].

Treatment of open fractures remains an interdisciplinary challenge. Even success and evidence of infection prevention especially of new treatment options is not clear. A systematic search in available electronic databases over the years 1974 until 2011 was conducted. Only clinical analyses with more than 5 adult patients in the German, English or French languages were included. All studies were rated according to Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine (CEBM) criteria. Over 855 articles were found due to the search and after applying the exclusion and inclusion criteria 49 studies were finally assessed to contribute to the evidence-based recommendations.                         Grade A recommendation: early application of antibiotics against gram-positive organisms for all open fracture types, additional coverage of gram-negative organisms for type III open fractures. Early surgical debridement should be performed.                         Grade B recommendation: type III open fractures should be treated with antibiotics for a minimum of 72 h but not longer than 24 h after wound closure. Vacuum treatment is justified and beneficial if wound closure is not achieved.                         Grade C recommendation: additional local antibiotic treatment in combination with systematic antibiotics may be of benefit. Definitive wound closure should be achieved within 1 week. This evidence-based analysis shows that there is good evidence for the treatment of open fractures with antibiotics and surgical debridement. Vacuum treatment can be recommended if wound closure is not possible.

The reliability of the pre-operative classification of open tibial fractures in children a proposal for a new classification.

The purpose of this observational study was to evaluate the accuracy of Gustilo's classification of open tibial fractures in children. Pre- and post-debridement (using the parameters of Gustilo's classification) wound gradings in 27 children with a mean age of 10 years (3 to 15 years) who had sustained an open tibial fracture were compared. Pre-operative Polaroid photographs of the wound were taken of all these patients in the accident and emergency department. In every case, the fracture was treated with prophylactic intravenous antibiotic administration, wound debridement and lavage. Following wound exploration in the operating theater, the wound was classified using Gustilo's parameters again; this was different from the initial grading. We compared post-debridement classification according to Gustilo to the new classification which we propose. The latter classification is a peroperative assessment of the extent of soft tissue damage and it addresses bone stability. According to this classification, the majority of open tibial fractures were stable, requiring no skin graft or flap and had a good outcome. Only five patients were treated by initial external fixation of the tibia; the remainder were treated by cast immobilization. Wounds were treated as appropriate. The clinical outcome study included the assessment of wound and fracture healing and the incidence of complications. The mean period for follow-up was 8 months (6 to 24 months). There were no cases of nonunion or deep wound infection and the wounds healed in all these patients. We conclude that Gustilo's classification is not specific and does not reflect the extent of soft tissue and skeletal damage. Factors such as the degree of soft tissue damage and periosteal stripping that are noticed following wound debridement and velocity of injury are far more important than the wound size. Our proposed peroperative classification covers the extent of soft tissue injury and skeletal stability, thus predicting the outcome more than the Gustilo classification.

Negative pressure wound therapy vs. conventional management in open tibia fractures: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Severe open tibia fractures are disastrous injuries associated with a high incidence of complications. Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) is a novel treatment for open tibia fractures; however, its efficacy remains unclear. This is a systematic review and meta-analysis performed to evaluate the effect of NPWT on decreasing the infection rate, amputation rate, nonunion rate, and flap-related complications in open tibia fractures. The MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases were systematically searched. Complications were evaluated in terms of the rates of infection, amputation, nonunion, and flap-related complications. Twelve studies were included. In the meta-analysis, NPWT showed significantly lower soft-tissue infection rate (odds ratio [OR] 0.48, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.34-0.68, P < 0.0001), nonunion rate (OR 0.61, 95% CI 0.39-0.95, P = 0.03), flap necrosis rate (OR 0.37, 95% CI 0.21-0.63, P = 0.0003), and flap revision rate (OR 0.44, 95% CI 0.22-0.89, P = 0.02) than conventional wound management. However, no significant difference was found in osteomyelitis rate (OR 0.54, 95% CI 0.09-3.28, P = 0.50) and amputation rate (OR 0.89, 95% CI 0.36-2.22, P = 0.80) between the 2 groups. Lower rates of soft-tissue infection, nonunion, flap necrosis, and flap revision were observed in the NPWT group than in the conventional dressing group. However, additional high-quality studies are warranted to verify the efficacy of NPWT in the treatment of severe open tibia fractures. We could not make a definitive conclusion about the comparative efficacy of the 2 methods in terms of complications because of insufficient data.

The injury characteristics of open pilon fractures predictive of complications.

Determine predictive injury factors for wound complications in open pilon fractures (OTA/AO 43B and 43C). Retrospective Case Series. Level I Trauma Center. A total of 61 open pilon fractures in 60 patients were evaluated after meeting inclusion and exclusion criteria. The majority of injuries underwent a staged protocol with immediate antibiotics, debridement, irrigation and external fixation. Following soft tissue stabilization, internal fixation was performed and wound closure achieved in a coordinated fashion depending on the type of closure required. Early amputation rate, 90-day major (wound dehiscence or deep infection requiring operative intervention) and minor (superficial infection) wound complications. Four patients incurred early amputations, 11 had major wound complications and 5 had minor wound complications. An early amputation was more likely if they presented with an OTA Open Fracture Classification (OTA-OFC) Bone Loss Grade 3. A major wound complication was more likely if they presented with a fall from > 3 m, a multifragmentary articular surface, a segmental fibula fracture, or an OTA-OFC Contamination Grade 3. A multifragmentary articular surface was also predictive of developing any wound complication. Open pilon fractures are severe, limb-threatening injuries and are at risk for wound complications. Patients presenting with these injuries and a predictive factor should be counseled regarding the possibility of early limb loss or experiencing a wound complication that will require additional treatment. Level III.