Open long bone fractures have been considered orthopaedic emergencies requiring immediate irrigation, debridement and stabilization. Concomitant traumatic brain injuries may preclude the immediate operative treatment of open fractures. The purpose of this study was to review patients with open tibial diaphyseal fractures whose operative tibial fracture management was delayed because of a concomitant traumatic brain injury to determine if there is an increased rate of infection or non-union.

After obtaining IRB approval, the trauma registry was scanned for patients who sustained both traumatic brain injury with an Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) equal to two or greater and an open tibial diaphyseal fracture. From January 1, 1996 to June 1, 2001, 28 patients with 31 open tibial shaft fractures were identified (Grade I=1, II=6, IIIA=17, IIIB= 7). There were 24 males and 4 females with an average age of 35 years (range 13–69 years of age). The mechanism of injury was motor vehicle collision or pedestrian versus motor vehicle accident for all patients. The mean time to operative irrigation, debridement, and stabilization was 11 hours (range 2–152 hours). Thirteen patients underwent operative orthopaedic treatment within 8 hours (mean 4.4 ± 1.3 hours), and 15 patients underwent delayed debridement (mean 35 ± 35 hours). Twenty fractures were stabilized with intramedullary nailing, 9 fractures were stabilized with external fixation, one fracture was stabilized with a compression plate, and one fracture treated in a cast. A review of clinic records and telephone follow-up interviews was used to determine the rates of infection or non-union. Infection was defined as a positive deep surgical culture for bacteria upon repeat irrigation and debridement. Non-union was defined as any clinically and radiographically unhealed fracture requiring further operative procedures.

The average length of follow up was 2.9 years (range 1 month to 6.5 years). Of the 31 open tibial diaphyseal fractures, four fractures (12.9%) were complicated by infection and four fractures (12.9%) went on to non-union. There was no statistical difference in the rates of infection or non-union in patients who underwent irrigation and debridement within eight hours and those that underwent irrigation and debridement after eight hours from the time of initial presentation (odds ratio=1.02, p=0.15). Furthermore there was no correlation between the ultimate presence of infection/non-union and grade of open tibial shaft fracture, initial method of fixation, timing of wound closure (immediate, delayed primary closure, or split-thickness skin graft or flap), severity of overall injury, and epidemiological characteristics.

In this subset of 28 patients with 31 open tibial shaft fractures and concomitant traumatic brain injuries, there was no difference in the incidence of infection or non-union in patients who underwent operative treatment within eight hours of admission to hospital and those who underwent operative treatment after eight hours. The results of this study should be considered in the prioritization of care for the multiply injured trauma patient.