Lactate Monitoring in Traumatic Long Bone Fractures Requiring Emergent Surgical Intervention

Serum lactate has been utilized as a standard in guiding management of orthopedic injuries. Elevated preoperative lactate has been associated with a higher likelihood of postoperative complications. However, lactate's role in guiding operative timing in non-critical long-bone fractures has not been previously explored. This study investigates lactate's role in guiding surgical timing and predicting complications secondary to delayed definitive correction in non-critical long-bone fractures with Injury Severity Score <16.

Inclusion Criteria:All patients aged 18 years or higher with long bone fractures with Injury Severity Score <16Exclusion Criteria:Non-long bone fracture surgeries performed within the first 72 hoursPatients who underwent external fixation prior to surgeryPatients with inconsistent or incomplete chart data Patients with polytrauma and life-threatening injuries.