Medicine
Classification and Management of Open Fractures in the Emergency Setting
Quick fact
Infection is the leading cause of complications in open fractures, with rates ranging from under 5% for Gustilo-Anderson type I injuries to over 50% for type IIIB or IIIC injuries, emphasizing the need for urgent antibiotic therapy and surgical washout.
Why this is interesting
You've just broken your arm in a fall, and the bone is poking through your skin. The clock is ticking—why is every minute precious?