Open tibial fractures

Summary

There is modest evidence from three recent retrospective studies to suggest that surgical delays of six hours or more do not appear to have detrimental effects on rates of infection, complications, nonunion, delayed union, or length of hospital stay in treating open tibial fractures, when compared with surgical treatment within six hours. Methodologically rigorous studies that adjust for confounding factors and account for all patients at follow-up are needed to confirm these results.