articleTop 10% cited

Factors Influencing Infection Rate in Open Fracture Wounds

Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research · 1989 · Vol. 243(243) · pp. 36–40

Michael J. Patzakis✉(University of Southern California)Jeanette Wilkins(University of Southern California)

Abstract

Seventy-seven infections in 1104 open fracture wounds were evaluated to identify those factors that predisposed to infection. Factors could be placed into three categories: (1) increased risk, (2) no effect, and (3) inconclusive. The single most important factor in reducing the infection rate was the early administration of antibiotics that provide antibacterial activity against both gram-positive and gram-negative microorganisms. In this study, surgical debridement was performed on all open fracture wounds.

Surgical site infection prevention Hip and Femur Fractures Bone fractures and treatmentsMedicineOpen fractureDebridement (dental)Infection rateAntibioticsSurgeryRisk factorOrthopedic surgeryInternal medicineMicrobiology

MeSH terms

AdolescentAdultAge FactorsAnti-Bacterial AgentsChildChild, PreschoolFracture Fixation, InternalFractures, OpenHumansInfantRisk FactorsTibial FracturesWound Infection

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639

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Retrospective analysis on use of external fixation in pediatric extremity trauma and fractures as a damage control device and their outcome in a tertiary care set up