European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Abstract

Diagnosis of open fracture is straight forward in most cases. Patient usually will have a deep bleeding laceration overlying or near the fracture of underlying bone. In some cases, fractured bone may be exposed because of soft tissue loss. However not all open fractures are obvious and there timely and proper diagnosis and treatment depends on a careful examination of the injured patient, salient features of history, reading of radiographs and good clinical judgment. All patients with open fractures of long bones presenting to emergency department, a detailed history and clinical examination were done. As part of a working proforma the following details will be noted from the patient and his attenders-demographic details, date and time of injury, the mode of injury. The fractures were graded according to Gustilo and Anderson’s classification.Type I fractures constituted 15%, type II constitute 37%, type IIIA constitute 25%, whereas type IIIB with inadequate skin cover and gross contamination was 20% in the study population. There is no significant difference in distribution between the groups with respect to classification of fracture.