AIMS: To determine whether a delay of greater than 6h from injury to initial surgical debridement and the timing of antibiotic administration affect infection rates in open long-bone fractures. METHODS: We studied 248 consecutive open long-bone fractures in 237 patients over a 9-year period. The patients were followed until clinical or radiological union occurred or until a secondary procedure for non-union or infection was performed. RESULTS: Surgical debridement was performed within 6h of injury in 62% of cases and after 6h in 38% of cases. Infection rates were 7.8% and 9.6%, respectively, and the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.6438). The timing of antibiotic administration was not significantly related to the infection rate. CONCLUSION: Whilst open long-bone fractures should be treated expeditiously, we suggest that adherence to a 6h window has not been shown to affect infection rates nor has the timing of antibiotic administration during the acute phase.
AIMS: To determine whether a delay of greater than 6h from injury to initial surgical debridement and the timing of antibiotic administration affect infection rates in open long-bone fractures. METHODS: We studied 248 consecutive open long-bone fractures in 237 patients over a 9-year period. The patients were followed until clinical or radiological union occurred or until a secondary procedure for non-union or infection was performed. RESULTS: Surgical debridement was performed within 6h of injury in 62% of cases and after 6h in 38% of cases. Infection rates were 7.8% and 9.6%, respectively, and the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.6438). The timing of antibiotic administration was not significantly related to the infection rate. CONCLUSION: Whilst open long-bone fractures should be treated expeditiously, we suggest that adherence to a 6h window has not been shown to affect infection rates nor has the timing of antibiotic administration during the acute phase.
Authors: Kirsten Kortram; Hans Bezstarosti; Willem-Jan Metsemakers; Michael J Raschke; Esther M M Van Lieshout; Michael H J Verhofstad Journal: Int Orthop Date: 2017-07-25 Impact factor: 3.075
Authors: Moritz T Giesecke; Philipp Schwabe; Florian Wichlas; Andrej Trampuz; Christian Kleber Journal: World J Emerg Surg Date: 2014-10-25 Impact factor: 5.469
Authors: David A Zuelzer; Christopher B Hayes; Gavin S Hautala; Adam Akbar; Ryan R Mayer; Cale A Jacobs; Raymond D Wright; Eric S Moghadamian; Paul E Matuszewski Journal: Clin Orthop Relat Res Date: 2021-03-01 Impact factor: 4.755