[First treatment of compound fractures of the tibia (author's transl)]

Omission of primary closure of the wound after debridement on the day of admission may delay the in hospital time for some days or even weeks, but does not interfere with the healing of the open fracture. On the other hand, primary closure endangers the patient with wound infection and osteitis. Experience shows that this complication can be diminished considerably by delayed wound closure when planned systematically.