Background and rationale {6a}
nonunion, amputation, fracture-related infections, infection, fractures, injuries, tissue damage
INFECTION, COMPLICATIONS
Open tibia fractures are orthopedic emergencies associated with a very high rate of morbidity and complications. These injuries can have infection rates of up to 40% and are at a high risk of other complications such as severe soft tissue damage, nonunion, and amputation [The standard of care treatment for open tibia fractures includes debridement, irrigation, soft-tissue coverage, osseus stabilization, and systemic antibiotic prophylaxis, yet despite these measures, complications remain high [Previous research regarding the use of local antibiotics for the prevention of fracture-related infections (FRI) in open tibia fractures has demonstrated some positive results. A systematic review including data from nearly 3000 patients demonstrated a reduction in FRI of nearly 12% with the use of local antibiotics in various forms [In this study, we aim to assess the effectiveness of local gentamicin for the prevention of FRI in open tibia fractures in Tanzania. We will initiate randomized, masked, placebo-controlled trial at a single tertiary care center in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, to assess whether local gentamicin injection is superior compared to a saline placebo injection.