Infection in open fractures of the hand

We reviewed one forty-six consecutive cases of patients with open fractures of the hand to identify factors that preduct infection and poor outcome. The incidence of infection was 11%. The infection rate in type 1 open fractures was 0%; in type 2, 9%; and in type 3, 14%. infection occured in 20.5% of grossly contaminated wounds (p<0.02), and was most common in patients with extensive soft tissue ans skeletal injury. Delay in treatment did not increase the incidence of infection or affect outcome. Functional outcome was highly correlated with the initial fracture type and with the presence of infection.