Advances in treating exposed fractures

Epidemiology, Etiology, Timing and Severity of Open Fracture - a Five Years Review From a Tertiary Trauma Center, Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia

Background

Open fractures are severe injuries resulting from the bone breaking through the skin, and they have a negative impact on patients' physical, mental, and financial well-being as well as that of the healthcare system. The incidence of open fractures varies globally. These injuries can lead to prolonged disability, increased healthcare costs, and psychological distress. The Gustilo-Anderson classification system is used to classify open fractures into three categories which surgeons use as an index for the severity of an injury and as a prognostic tool. Management involves a multidisciplinary approach, focusing on preventing infection, promoting wound healing, and restoring function.

Objective

The objective of this study is to provide statistics on the epidemiology of open fractures presented to the emergency department to be used later to create management protocols.

Methods

This 5-year retrospective observational analysis of open fracture patients at King Fahad Hospital, a tertiary trauma care institute in Alkhobar from 2018-2023, aimed to understand socio-demographics, injury mechanisms, fracture patterns, and timing. Data were collected electronically, and found 373 cases which were reviewed, and only 138 open fractures fit our inclusion and exclusion criteria and were added to the study.

Results

The study analyzed 138 openly fractured bones in 132 patients aged 2 to 68. Most bones affected were in the lower extremities, the most common being the forefoot bones. The most common mode of injury was a motorbike, followed by MVA. The most common Gustilo type was type 2, with no significant correlation between gender and severity. Musculoskeletal system injury was the highest associated system. Furthermore, we observe a slight increase in cases in Winter/Fall weather seasons.

Conclusion

Total amount of 84.8% of patients with open fractures are men, compared to 15.2% of women. The average age of patients is 25.6 ± 15.6 years. Motorbike accidents, then MVA, are the two leading causes of open fractures. Weather seasons, especially in fall and winter, may also contribute to an increase in open fractures. We found that type 2 is the most common Gustilo type among the injured bones (59.1%).

Geographical Inequalities in Access to Bellwether Procedures in Brazil

BACKGROUND

Brazil is a middle-income country that aims to provide universal health coverage, but its surgical system's efficiency has rarely been analyzed. In an effort to strengthen surgical national systems, the Lancet Commission on Global Surgery proposed bellwether procedures as quality indicators of surgical workforces. This study aims to evaluate regional inequalities in access to bellwether procedures and their associated mortality across the five Brazilian geographical regions.

METHODS

Using DATASUS, Brazil's national healthcare database, data were collected on the total amount of performed bellwether procedures-cesarean section, laparotomy, and open fracture management-and their associated mortality, by geographical region. We evaluated the years 2018-2020, both in emergent and elective conditions. Statistical analysis was performed by one-way ANOVA test and Tukey's multiple comparisons test.

RESULTS

During this period, DATASUS registered 2,687,179 cesarean sections, 1,036,841 laparotomies, and 648,961 open fracture treatments. The access and associated mortality related to these procedures were homogeneous between the regions in elective care. There were significant geographical inequalities in access and associated mortality in emergency care (p < 0.05, 95% CI) for all bellwether procedures. The Southeast, the most economically developed region of the country, was the region with the lowest amount of bellwether procedures per 100,000 inhabitants.

CONCLUSION

Brazil's public surgical system is competent at promoting elective surgical care, but more effort is needed to fortify emergency care services. Public policies should encourage equity in the geographic allocation of the surgical workforce.

Clínical Audit of Primary Treatment of Open Fractures: Antibiotic Treatment and Tetanus Prophylaxis

Objective  To evaluate whether the conducts involving antimicrobial treatment and prophylaxis against tetanus have been performed according to the Clinical Protocol of the Institution.

Methods  Descriptive and retrospective study conducted in patients of both genders, > 18 years old admitted to a public hospital specialized in emergency and trauma, to treat primary open fracture. The data of interest were surveyed in medical records, drug prescriptions, report of patients admitted in the Surgical Block and tetanus prophylaxis requests.

Results  A total of 241 patients were selected, mostly male (81.7%), young adults (64.3%), victims of motorcycle accidents (53.5%). Infectious complications were present in 18.7% of the fractures, the mean time for the surgical approach was 4 hours and 12 minutes, and 91.7% of the patients had preoperative antimicrobial prescription. The main inadequacies identified were: period of prescription of antimicrobial treatment (63.5%); choice of the antimicrobial scheme (59.3%) and antimicrobial dose (58.0%). Only 14.1% of the patients were immunized against tetanus.

Conclusion  The greatest divergences with the Clinical Protocol were observed in the issues involving the antimicrobial regimen used, doses and time of prescription, as well as in tetanus prophylaxis.

Open fractures: epidemiological pattern, initial management and challenges in a sub-urban teaching hospital in Nigeria

Introduction

Management of open fractures poses a constant challenge to Orthopaedic surgeons in Nigeria. Our aim is to determine the epidemiological pattern of open fractures in our centre and share our experiences on the initial management and problems encountered.

Methods

This was an 18 month prospective study of patients that presented with open fractures at our emergency room. Already prepared data collection sheets were used to collect relevant data directly from patients and patients' files.

Results

There were 58 open fractures in 52 patients (31 males and 21 females). Mean age of patients was 36.4 ± 12.2 years. Most patients (82.7%) fell within the age group of 20-49 years. Traders (28.9%) and students (19.6%) were mostly affected. Most open fractures (88.5%) were due to road traffic accidents. The tibia and fibula were the most frequently affected (44.4%). Most injuries were Gustilo et al. types IIIA & IIIB (79.3%) open fractures. Patients had initial resuscitation followed by debridement in 42 cases (72%). Fractures were initially stabilized with external fixators in 23 cases (39.7%) and cast slabs in 19 cases (32.8%). The average time between presentation and debridement was 30 hours and average hospital stay was 36 days. Forty two point five per cent of wounds were infected.

Conclusion

Open fractures were mostly due to road traffic accidents and affected the tibia and fibula most frequently with Gustilo et al. types IIIA and IIIB forming the bulk of the injuries. Management was challenging with late presentations, scarcity of resources and consequent high rate of infections, prolonged morbidity and hospital stay. These problems were worsened by delay in antibiotic commencement and initial debridement, sub-optimal treatment at peripherial hospitals and mis-management by traditional bone setters.