Open Fractures – Time from Trauma to Efficient Surgical Debridement Is the Key Factor for Post-Traumatic Infection

Abstract

Open fractures represent a challenging aspect of modern traumatology with high individual and social impact especially due to septic complications which require prolonged hospitalization, repeated surgery and considerable costs. That is why medical research is directed to establishing the most effi cient diagnostic and therapeutic algorithms able to decrease the incidence of septic complications and promote optimal fracture healing. The purpose of this paper is to underline the importance of early proper surgical debridement for the outcome of these fractures as reflected by the experience of a Level 1 Trauma Centre in order to include this aspect into future therapeutical guidelines.

Keywords

• open fractures
• surgical debridement
• external fixation