Everything You Need to Know About Open Fractures

An open fracture can be well described as a condition that involves damage to the soft tissue along with the skin near the fracture. In other words, an open fracture can also be described as the situation where the fractured bone gets exposed to the external environment. The treatment of such fractures requires surgery and that involves the use of orthopedic implants like External Fixator System, Rail Fixator, Locking Compression Plates, Bone Screws plates, etc.

As open fractures expose the bone and surrounding tissues to the external environment, the chances of getting infection become high due to poor bacterial resistance.

Causes of Open Fractures

Open fractures are most commonly caused due to high-energy trauma or extreme impact. Though sometimes low-energy impact may also result in open fractures yet this occurs where the bone lies just beneath the skin without any muscular sleeve over it.

It is seen that open fractures are also accompanied by multiple injuries to other parts of the body including the head, limb, or trunk. This is due to the severity of the impact caused during trauma.  

 

Microbiology of Open Fractures

As discussed above, in the case of most open fracture cases, bacterial contamination is seen, and that is due to the presence of an open wound.  The doctors notice positive wound cultures before they start the treatment. The presence of Gram-negative bacilli or more harmful pseudomonas or clostridia increases the risk of infection. Contamination with pathogenic Staphylococcus Aureus is most commonly seen after the arrival of the patient in the hospital. Read More.