Infection post debridement before and after golden period of open fracture of the lower leg grade Ill A and Ill B.

Abstract

All open fractures especially open fracture of the lower leg grade III A and III B, should be assumed to be contaminated, therefore they tend to be infected. The time of intervention is one of the risk factors of infection complication.

A descriptive analysis has been conducted aiming at evaluate the occurrence of infection and the time of treatment on patients with open fracture of the lower leg grade III A and III B. In this study 102 cases (80 males and 22 females) who had open fracture of the lower leg grade III A and III B were admitted to Dr. Sardjito General hospital, Yogyakarta. Patients were evaluated according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Out of fifty-four cases underwent intervention before 8 hours after injury (within golden period) 25 cases (46,29%) had been infected. The rest (48 cases) who had treatment after 8 hours since trauma, 83,33% (40 cases) were infected.

A statistical analysis (X2 = 13,520, df=1 and p < 0,001) showed that there was significant difference of infection complication of open fracture of the lower leg grade III A and III B and the intervention between within and beyond golden period.

Key words: open fracture - tibia fracture - infection - golden period - debridement