OPEN FRACTURE MANAGEMENT

Course overview

AN OPEN FRACTURE IS AN INJURY WHERE THE FRACTURED BONE AND/OR FRACTURE HEMATOMA ARE EXPOSED TO THE EXTERNAL ENVIRONMENT VIA A TRAUMATIC VIOLATION OF THE SOFT TISSUE AND SKIN. THE SKIN WOUND MAY LIE AT A SITE DISTANT TO THE FRACTURE AND NOT DIRECTLY OVER IT. THEREFORE, ANY FRACTURE THAT HAS A CONCOMITANT WOUND SHOULD BE CONSIDERED OPEN UNTIL PROVEN OTHERWISE. THIS ACTIVITY EXAMINES WHEN THIS CONDITION SHOULD BE CONSIDERED ON A DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS AND HOW TO PROPERLY EVALUATE FOR IT. THIS ACTIVITY HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN CARING FOR PATIENTS WITH THIS CONDITION.