Osteomyelitis Risk Factors Related to Combat Trauma Open Femur Fractures: A Case–Control Analysis

Conclusions: Patients with open femur fractures resulting in significant muscle damage have the highest osteomyelitis risk. Foreign body contamination was only significant when an implant was present. Increased risk with antibiotic bead use is likely a surrogate for clinical suspicion of contamination with complex wounds. The timeframe association is likely due to changing trauma system patterns around 2006–2007 (eg, increased negative pressure wound therapy, reduced high-pressure irrigation, decreased crystalloid use, and delayed definitive internal fixations). Level of Evidence: Prognostic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Source: Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma - Category: Orthopaedics Tags: Original Article Source Type: research