To help prevent infection, you will be given antibiotics in the emergency room. If more information is needed, your doctor may order a computerized tomography (CT) scan or another type of imaging test. X-rays will show the number of breaks in the bone, as well as the position and degree of separation (displacement) between the bony fragments. Your doctor will order X-rays to help determine the extent of the fracture. When there is any wound in the same area as a broken bone, it is assumed that there is an open fracture. Examine the wound and fracture site, checking for damage to soft tissues, nerves, and circulation.Ask how and where your injury occurred.Do an initial evaluation and check for other injuries.Most patients with open fractures will go to the emergency room for initial treatment. For this reason, preventing infection is the focus of early treatment. In extreme cases where the infection cannot be cured and the patient's life is threatened, amputation may even be necessary. The patient may require long-term antibiotics and multiple surgical procedures. In general, the greater the damage is to bone and soft tissues, the greater the risk of infection.Ī bone infection can be difficult to treat. Open fractures pose an immediate risk of infection. Knowing the setting where your injury occurred can help your doctor determine the best course of treatment. Objects such as dirt, broken glass, grass, mud, and even the patient's own clothing can be driven into an open wound. To some extent, the setting in which an open fracture occurs - the place where it happens - will affect the degree of contamination. The location of the wound and whether the soft tissues in the area have good blood supply.The damage to surrounding soft tissues (muscles, tendons, etc.).The size and number of the fracture fragments.The severity of an open fracture depends on several factors, including: Rosemont, IL, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, 2008: pp. Reproduced and adapted from Zalavras CG, Marcus RE, Levin LS, Patzakis MJ: Management of open fractures and subsequent complications. Special care must be taken to prevent infection. In this injury to the lower leg, the broken bones are not visible, but there is a small open wound over the fractures.
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