Objectives: To determine whether a time delay greater than 6h from injury to surgical debridement influences the infection rate in open fractures.Methods: During a period of 18 months, from October 2010 to March 2012, 151 open fractures were available for study in 142 patients in our hospital. The data were collected prospectively and the patients were followed up for 6 weeks. The patients were divided into two groups regarding the time delay from injury to surgical debridement (more or less than 6 hours).Results: Surgical debridement was carried out in less than 6h from injury in 90 (59.6%) fractures and after 6 hours from injury in 61 (40.4%) fractures. Infection rates were 12.22% and 13.24%, respectively. The global infection rate was 13.24%.Conclusion: A significantly increased infection rate was not observed in patients whose surgical debridement occurred more than 6h after injury. However, in the fractures of high-energy trauma, a statistically significant increase of the rate of infection was observed in those operated 6 hours after trauma. Level of Evidence II, Study Type Comparative and Prospective.

OBJETIVO: Traçar o perfil epidemiológico dos pacientes atendidos em uma unidade de urgência com diagnóstico de fratura exposta. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: O trabalho é do tipo epidemiológico, prospectivo, descritivo, observacional, das fraturas expostas atendidas por amostra de conveniência na instituição, no período de 1 setembro de 2005 a 31 de março de 2007. A coleta dos dados foi através de questionário com diversas variáveis. RESULTADOS: Obtivemos 342 pacientes portadores de 346 fraturas, sendo a maioria do sexo masculino (86,84%), com idade média de 30,41 anos e tempo médio de internação de 6,87 dias. As profissões encontradas foram os estudantes (21,92%), seguido dos "motoboys" (11,40%). Os acidentes ocorreram em vias públicas (57,30%), acometendo os ossos da perna (37,86%) e classificadas como grau III (45,36%). Lesões associadas ocorreram em 27,19%, apresentando 11,11% de complicações. Houve consumo de bebida alcoólica (12,86%) e drogas (1,46%) nas 6 horas que antecederam o trauma. CONCLUSÃO: Houve o predomínio do paciente jovem do sexo masculino, com ensino fundamental incompleto, acidentes de trânsito, no período das 19hs às 0hs, acometendo os ossos da perna e classificadas como grau III. As lesões associadas e complicações precoces estão mais relacionadas às lesões de maior gravidade.

OBJECTIVE: to delineate the epidemiological profile of patients attended by an emergency unit, diagnosed with open fractures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is an epidemiological, prospective, descriptive, observational study of open fractures attended at the institution, selected by convenience sampling, in the period September 1, 2005 to March 31, 2007. The data were collected from patients using a questionnaire with multiple variables. RESULTS: we obtained 342 patients with 346 open fractures. The majority of the patients were male (86.84%), with an average age of 30.41 years and average hospitalization time of 6.87 days. The main professions were students (21.92%), followed by motorcycle couriers (11.40%). The accidents occurred on public roads (57.30%), affecting mainly the leg bones (37.86%) and classified as level III (45.36%). Associated injuries occurred in 27.19%, with 11.11% complications. There was evidence of alcohol consumption (12.86%) and drug use (1.46%) in the six hours prior to the trauma. CONCLUSION: The patients were mainly young, male, with incomplete school education. The main cause of the traumas was road accidents, occurring at night (between 7 pm and midnight), with leg bone injuries classified as level III. The associated injuries and early complications were predominantly related to injuries of greater severity.