To determine whether a delay of greater than 6 hrs from injury to initial surgical debridement and the timing of antibiotic administration affect infection rates in open long-bone fractures in a typical district general hospital in the UK. In a prospective study, 248 consecutive open long-bone fractures (248 patients) were recruited over a 10-year period between 1996 and 2005. The data were collected in weekly audit meetings. Patients were followed until clinical or radiological union occurred or until a secondary procedure for non-union or infection was performed. The timing of the injury, initial surgical debridement, timing of antibiotic administration, and definitive procedures were all recorded. We also recorded the bone involved and the Gustillo and Anderson (GA) score. Patients who died within 3 months from the injury or who were transferred for definitive treatment were excluded.Aims
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