Overview of Treatment

Current evidence demonstrates that the risk of infection increases with increasing fracture severity and time to administration of the proper antibiotics.

The goals of open fracture management are prevention of infection, fracture union, and restoration of function.

These can be achieved by:

1. Careful patient and injury evaluation

2. Early administration of systemic antibiotics and prophylactics supplemented by local delivery of antibiotics in severe injuriesand injury evaluation

3.Thorough surgical debridement and irrigation – ideally within 24 hours of initial presentation

4. Wound management with soft tissue coverage

5. Stable fracture fixation, if needed