The relationship between time to surgical debridement and incidence of infection after open high-energy lower extremity trauma.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Urgent débridement of open fractures has been considered to be of paramount importance for the prevention of infection. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between the timing of the initial treatment of open fractures and the development of subsequent infection as well as to assess contributing factors.

Methods

Three hundred and fifteen patients with severe high-energy lower extremity injuries were evaluated at eight level-I trauma centers. Treatment included aggressive débridement, antibiotic administration, fracture stabilization, and timely soft-tissue coverage. The times from injury to admission and operative débridement as well as a wide range of other patient, injury, and treatment-related characteristics that have been postulat

SUBMITTER: Pollak AN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2799040 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature