Trauma / Orthopaedics
Gustilo-Anderson Open Fracture Classification
Classify open fractures by wound size, soft tissue damage, and contamination. Guides antibiotic choice, surgical timing, and definitive management.
Guided Classification
1
Is there an associated vascular injury requiring repair?
Absent distal pulses, expanding haematoma, active arterial bleeding, or ABI < 0.9
VascularWound SizeCoverageResult
Quick Comparison
Type I
Wound: Less than 1 cm
Infection: 0–2%
Contamination: Clean wound
Small, clean wound with simple fracture
Type II
Wound: 1–10 cm
Infection: 2–10%
Contamination: Moderate
Larger wound with moderate soft tissue damage
Type IIIA
Wound: Usually greater than 10 cm
Infection: 10–25%
Contamination: High (including farmyard, segmental fractures, gunshot wounds)
High energy, extensive damage but bone is covered
Type IIIB
Wound: Usually greater than 10 cm
Infection: 25–50%
Contamination: Massive
Bone exposed, needs flap coverage
Type IIIC
Wound: Any size
Infection: 25–50%
Contamination: Variable
Any open fracture with vascular injury requiring repair. Limb-threatening.
Dr Sumit's Clinical Pearls
Based on Gustilo RB & Anderson JT. JBJS 1976. Enhanced with clinical pearls by Dr Sumit Mandal.