To audit adherence to the British Orthopaedic Association and British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons 2009 review of the acute management of severe open lower limb fractures (BOAST4).

Audit: Retrospective study of adherence to BOAST4 standards of 37 cases treated at Derriford Hospital between March 2010 and 2011.

Intervention: a multidisciplinary approach towards the management of such injuries. Assigning department-specific roles across all specialities involved and establishing an early patient transfer pathway from non-specialist centres in the region.

Re-audit: Prospective data collection of adherence to BOAST4 of 18 cases between October 2011 and April 2012.

Eleven of 15 standards were comparable. Statistical analysis was performed using Fisher's exact test (p≤0.05). Six standards showed statistically significant improvement: antibiotic therapy; regular assessment of neurovascular status; urgent surgery for contaminated wounds; initial wound care; appropriate splinting and early patient transfers. One standard was adhered to in all cases. 3 standards showed improvement, although not statistically significant and 1 standard remained consistently low in adherence.

Although doctors are familiar with BOAST4, many are not aware of the specific details. A coordinated and informed multidisciplinary team has enabled the successful application of an evidenced-based approach to the management these injuries.