Epidemiological, clinical and microbiological prospective study of patients with open fractures assisted at university Hospital. We studied 117 patients with open fractures during a period of two years, submitted to a protocol to identify the patient and the kind of trauma, interned for surgical treatment. The culture was collected in 45 patients for microbiological evaluation, before the surgery. The Gram-positive bacteria were the most observed type. All patients used prophylactic antibiotic therapy, but the choice of drug could have a better pattern. Most patients had the following profile: male, white, married, age group 21-30 years, industrial worker with Elementary School complete, victim of car or Motorcycle accidents. The fractures were grouped according to the Gustilo classification, and most of them were of Type III. The infection levels were related to the degree of the classification, being more frequent in Type III. Compared with the literature, the present study showed a higher infection rate in Type II. On the average, the exposure time was of five hours and thirty-nine minutes. Most fractures were managed with an external fixator. It was also evaluated the presence of other injuries, that was low. The Average time spent at the Hospital was of 9.14 days, with almost eight visits to the ambulatory for patient assistance. The most observed complications were infection and pseudoarthrosis, and the more implicated bone was the tibia. Most patients were discharged by the end of this study.
Fractures, Open; Surgery; Epidemiology; Drug therapy; Wound infection
