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Open tibial fracture — DipIMC MCQ

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EasyPre-Hospital Trauma ManagementOpen tibial fractureDipIMC

A 44-year-old cyclist has a suspected open tibial fracture after collision with street furniture. There is moderate bleeding controlled by pressure, visible bone, and intact distal pulses. What is the most appropriate management?

Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.

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Correct answer: A — Apply sterile dressing, splint the limb and provide analgesia before transport

Open fractures need haemorrhage control, sterile coverage, analgesia, splinting and timely hospital care. Roadside irrigation and attempted reduction of protruding bone may introduce contamination and worsen injury. A tourniquet is reserved for life-threatening bleeding not controlled by pressure. The pearl is that pre-hospital care protects tissue and prevents further contamination; definitive debridement is hospital care.

Reference: JRCALC Guidelines 2025; NICE Complex Fractures NG37