title: Open fractures of the tibial shaft: an update.
abstract: The treatment of open fractures of the tibial shaft continues to be a challenging problem for the orthopaedic surgeon. The basic principles of treatment for open fractures have changed little over the past decade; urgent wound débridement, early use of antibiotic therapy, skeletal stabilization, and early wound coverage remain the primary goals of treatment. However, the methods used to achieve these goals of treatment have evolved. Recent advances in the treatment of open fractures focus on the treatment of open fractures of the tibial shaft.
authors.affiliation: Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: Steven A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Olson
authors.forename: Emil H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Schemitsch
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003646:Debridement / Q000379:methods; D005592:Fracture Fixation / Q000379:methods*; D005597:Fractures, Open / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation / Q000379:methods; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery*; D014946:Wound Infection / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents