- Discussion:
- refers to the blisters which from swollen skin overlying fractures;
- most commonly arise over tibia, ankle, and elbow;
- when fracture blisters are present at the time of surgery, wound complications will develop in the majority of patients;
- when fracture blisters develop following surgery, wound complications are infrequent;
- when possible fracture blisters should be left intact since the transudate remains sterile (once ruptured the blisters are contaminated w/ skin flora);
- once ruptured, the blister roof should be left intact;
- re-epithelialization may take upto 3 weeks;
Fracture Blisters: Clinical and Pathological Aspects.
C.D. Varela, T.K. Vaughan, J.B. Carr, and B.K. Slemmons. J. Orthop. Trauma. 1993. Vol 7. No 5. p 417-427.
Treatment of fracture blisters: a prospective study of 53 cases.
The management of soft-tissue problems associated with calcaneal fractures.
Intermittent pneumatic pedal compression and edema resolution after acute ankle fracture: a prospective, randomized study.
Fastest reduction of posttraumatic edema: continuous cryotherapy or intermittent impulse compression?.
Blisters Associated With Lower-Extremity Fracture: Results of a Prospective Treatment Protocol.
