Open fracture

Cause

An open fracture is one in which the broken bone ends stick out of the skin. This is an especially painful injury that generally occurs as a result of high-energy trauma. In this context, the bone is broken in two by excessive torsion or a violent impact to the bone. The risk of infection is high with this type of fracture, as the bone is exposed to air and debris. This injury requires emergency care to avoid bacterial contamination.

Treatment

With open fractures, surgery is mandatory to ensure and accelerate the healing of the broken bone. Performing the surgery as quickly as possible after the fracture helps to prevent infection or incomplete healing of the broken bones. After the surgery, the affected area will be immobilized to ensure the bones are well-aligned. Specialized care is needed to ensure the skin and surrounding tissues heal properly. Rehabilitation is also crucial to help the patient regain full mobility.