Open fractures of the lower extremity

Open fractures of the lower extremity are the most common open long bone injuries, yet their management remains a topic of debate. This article discusses the basic tenets of management and the subsequent impact on clinical outcome. These include the rationale for initial debridement, antimicrobial cover, addressing the soft-tissue injury and definitive skeletal management. The classification of injury severity continues to be a useful tool in guiding treatment and predicting outcome and prognosis. The Gustilo-Anderson classification continues to be the mainstay, but the adoption of severity scores such as the Ganga Hospital score may provide additional predictive utility. Recent literature has challenged the perceived need for rapid debridement within 6 hours and the rationale for prolonged antibiotic therapy in the open fracture. The choice of definitive treatment must be decided against known efficacy and injury severity/type. Recent data demonstrate better outcomes with internal fixation methods in mos...