THE EPIDEMIOLOGY OF OPEN LONG-BONE FRACTURES

Open long bone fractures occur with a frequency of 11.5 per 100 000 pe rsons per year. They are more common in males and they have a bimodal age distribution. Open fractures of the tibial diaphysis are the commo nest, but open femoral diaphyseal, distal femoral and proximal tibial fractures tend to occur in the most seriously injured patients. Lower limb open fractures are move severe than open fractures of the upper l imbs. Not only is the soft tissue damage less in open upper limb fract ures, but there are fewer associated musculoskeletal injuries. (C) 199 8 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.