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.
