The Current Concepts in the Management of Open Fractures / 대한정형외과학회잡지

ABSTRACT

Open fractures require infection prevention, injured soft tissue management, and fracture fixation. Moreover, it should be treated according to the emergency surgery. The main goals of treatment are life preservation, limb preservation, infection prevention, and functional restoration. Treatment procedure is carried out in the following order. Early diagnosis and management in the emergency room, appropriate antibiotic treatment, adequate irrigation and thorough debridement, fracture fixation and wound restoration (temporary stabilization of the fracture and covering of the wound, definite fixation of the fracture and soft tissue coverage). Herein, we discuss the current trends in each treatment phase to be helpful to other clinicians regarding the applicability of these steps in clinical practice.