Survey on Fluid Irrigation Practices for Open Fracture Wounds
Author Information
Author(s): Petrisor Brad, Jeray Kyle, Schemitsch Emil, Hanson Beate, Sprague Sheila, Sanders David, Bhandari Mohit
Primary Institution: McMaster University
Hypothesis
There is considerable variability in the operative treatment of open fracture wounds.
Conclusion
The majority of surgeons favour both normal saline and low pressure lavage for the initial management of open fracture wounds.
Supporting Evidence
- 70.5% of surgeons preferred normal saline for irrigation.
- 71% of surgeons used low pressure for delivering irrigating solutions.
- 94.2% of surgeons would change their practice if a trial showed a clear benefit of a different irrigating solution.
Takeaway
Most doctors think using normal saline and low pressure is best for cleaning open fractures, but they have different opinions on what works best.
Methodology
A cross-sectional survey was conducted among surgeons to examine their preferences in the management of open fracture wounds.
Potential Biases
Potential non-responder bias could affect the generalizability of the results.
Limitations
The study may have non-responder bias and did not re-administer surveys to non-responders.
Participant Demographics
The typical respondent was a male over 30 with more than 5 years of practice, with a majority working in academic centers.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.048
Confidence Interval
95%
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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