An open fracture is one that has an associated wound over it and that wound communicates with fracture hematoma. Open fractures are always a special situation because they demand prompt and aggressive approach.
The hallmark of open fracture is an associated bleeding wound. In severe cases the fracture fragments may be jutting out. Because, often the skin has been breached, there are higher chances of neurovascular injuries. Therefore all the nerves and vessels should be carefully examined.
If there is an arterial injury, a doppler ultrasound would be required to confirm and know the level of injury.
If the wound is small and clean the fracture can be managed with closed fracture treatment after debridement. However moderate clean wounds would require fixation external or internal, depending on the condition of wound after debridement.
External fixation usually is done for fractures with such severe injury to the soft tissues and profound contamination.
Gunshot fractures constitute a unique type of open fracture, caused by high-velocity bullets, result in more frequent and more severe nerve and vessel injury and a more comminuted fracture.
These usually result in severe damage to the soft tissue and formal debridement in the operating room followed by fixation, often with an external fixator, is necessary.