Correlation of Time to Soft Tissue Coverage With Clinical Outcome in Lower Extremity Trauma in the Modern Era: A Single-Center Retrospective Review

Chad M Bailey; Matthew R Zeiderman; Derek B Asserson; Abhishek K Jairam; Christopher J Little; Corey M Bascone; Lee Lq Pu

Correlation of Time to Soft Tissue Coverage With Clinical Outcome in Lower Extremity Trauma in the Modern Era: A Single-Center Retrospective Review

Eplasty. 2022 Nov 30:22:eX. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Chad M Bailey^{1

2}, Matthew R Zeiderman¹, Derek B Asserson^{1

3}, Abhishek K Jairam⁴, Christopher J Little⁴, Corey M Bascone¹, Lee Lq Pu¹

Affiliations

¹ Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of California Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, CA.
² Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons, Renton, WA.
³ California Northstate University College of Medicine, Elk Grove, CA.
⁴ University of California Davis Medical School, Sacramento, CA.

PMID: 36793618
PMCID: PMC9891769

Abstract

Background: Lower extremity salvage in the setting of severe trauma requires the consideration of multiple surgical specialties and treatment algorithms. We hypothesized that time to first ambulation, ambulation without an assistive device, chronic osteomyelitis, and delayed amputation were not affected by the time to soft tissue coverage in Gustilo IIIB and IIIC fractures at our institution.

Methods: We evaluated all patients treated for open tibia fractures at our institution from 2007 to 2017. Patients requiring any form of soft tissue coverage to the lower extremity during their initial hospitalization and who had at least 30 days of follow-up from time of hospital discharge were included. Univariable and multivariable analysis was performed for all variables and outcomes of interest.

Results: Of 575 patients included, 89 required soft tissue coverage. On multivariable analysis, the time to soft tissue coverage, length of negative pressure wound therapy treatment, and number of wound washouts were not found to be associated with development of chronic osteomyelitis, decreased 90-day return to any ambulation, decreased 180-day return to ambulation without assistive device, or delayed amputation.

Conclusions: Time to soft tissue coverage in open tibia fractures did not affect time to first ambulation, ambulation without an assistive device, chronic osteomyelitis, or delayed amputation in this cohort. It remains difficult to definitively prove that time to soft tissue coverage meaningfully impacts lower extremity outcomes.

Keywords: Gustilo classification; lower extremity trauma; negative pressure wound therapy; open tibia fracture; soft tissue coverage.

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