[Soft-tissue damage caused by fracture (author's transl)].

Bone fractures are combined with damage to the soft tissue, which consists in swelling, contusion and open injury. Depending on the degree of the traumatic deformation on the bones, there are large avasculated zones, and hypoxia and acidosis are found in the whole of the injured region. This is followed by a catabolic situation that continues-according to the degree of the injury-for at least 72 hrs. The treatment regime is affected by this as it determines the point at which surgery can be undertaken, the treatment of open wounds, access to the fracture, the method of stabilization, and the follow-up treatment.