Plans for assessment and collection of outcomes {18a}
fracture, angulation, pain, fractures, fracture-related, fracture-related infection
ADVERSE EVENTS, COMPLICATIONS
All data collection will be carried out by the 3 research coordinators. The research coordinators have undergone training on the proper employment of all appropriate scales and surveys used in the study.All patients possessing potentially eligible open tibia fractures will be screened by the program coordinators. Should a patient prove eligible and provide informed consent, basic demographic information, including socioeconomic status, medical and social history, injury characteristics, and estimated pre-injury quality of life, will be collected. Health-related quality of life will be measured using the validated and widely used EuroQol EQ-5D survey [The patient will then proceed for operative treatment and definitive fixation at the discretion of the treating surgeon. Wound size measurements (using a centimeter ruler or the handle of a scalpel) will be taken of the maximum dimension of the wound both prior to debridement and after debridement. OTA open fracture classification, Gustillo-Anderson classification, fracture fixation data, and the total time to fixation will be recorded.Following the intervention, postoperative orthogonal radiographs and serum creatine collected on postoperative day 2 will be obtained. Preoperative radiographs will undergo OTA fracture classification and postoperative radiographs will be measured for any coronal or sagittal angulation by a trained member of the coordinating center. Prior to discharge, the research coordinator will meet with each patient to schedule their follow-up appointments and document any in-hospital complications.At the 2-week follow-up appointment, serum creatinine and CRP will be drawn. Patients will complete the outcomes assessment surveys for fracture-related infection, current pain level, unplanned fracture-related reoperation, and other adverse events [For all remaining study visits at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months, patients will complete radiographs of the affected limb and have a CRP drawn. Radiographs will be evaluated for their degree of coronal or sagittal angulation and the modified RUST score will be completed by a member of the coordinating center [