Damage Control Orthopedics in Mangled Limb and Open Fractures

Damage control orthopedics: a response

Damage Control Orthopedics – When And Why

Care of a trauma patient with multiple injuries can pose complex problems of prioritization. For orthopedic injuries, we prefer to perform defi nitive fi xation of all fractures in one trip to the operating room. This approach not only makes the most effi cient use of the operating room and the orthopedic surgeon, but it permits the other injuries to be treated promptly, and allows the patient ...

Damage-control orthopedics versus early total care in the treatment of borderline high-energy pelvic fractures.

The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of damage-control orthopedics (DCO) vs early total care (ETC) in the treatment of borderline high-energy pelvic fractures. Seventy-two patients with borderline high-energy pelvic fractures were retrospectively reviewed; 39 received DCO and 33 received ETC. Demographic data and initial injury severities were comparable between groups, ex...

Open tibial shaft fractures: II. Definitive management and limb salvage.

Definitive treatment of open fractures of the tibial diaphysis is challenging. The high-energy nature of these fractures, as well as the contamination of the fracture site and devitalization of the soft-tissue envelope, greatly increases the risk of infection, nonunion, and wound complications. The goals of definitive treatment include wound coverage or closure; prevention of infection; restora...

Antibiotics for preventing infection in open limb fractures.

BACKGROUND Wound and bone infections are frequently associated with open fractures of the extremities and may add significantly to the resulting morbidity. The administration of antibiotics is routinely used in developed countries as an adjunct to a comprehensive management protocol that also includes irrigation, surgical debridement and stabilisation when indicated, and is thought to reduce th...