Gustilo Open Fracture Calculator

Gustilo Open Fracture Calculator for Orthopedics. IIIA and IIIB distinguish coverage and soft-tissue loss; IIIC identifies the vascular repair requirement. Even an apparently small wound can accompany major injury. The tool intentionally leaves borderline wound classification to the examining clinician.

For shared guidance on choosing a tool and documenting results, read the clinical calculator workflow.

How this calculator works

This is a descriptive classification helper rather than a numerical risk model. A clinician chooses the applicable I, II, IIIA or IIIB pattern. Arterial injury requiring repair overrides that selection as IIIC; an unconfirmed or closed fracture receives no grade.

When to use this calculator

Use the helper to communicate an open-fracture assessment alongside the operative findings. Revisit provisional emergency-department grading after debridement because the skin opening can underestimate deeper damage.

Inputs used

  • Confirmation that the fracture is open, the need for arterial repair, and an independently assessed wound/soft-tissue pattern after adequate inspection.

Clinical interpretation

IIIA and IIIB distinguish coverage and soft-tissue loss; IIIC identifies the vascular repair requirement. Even an apparently small wound can accompany major injury. The tool intentionally leaves borderline wound classification to the examining clinician.

Worked example

A severe injury with adequate soft-tissue coverage selects the IIIA pattern. If associated arterial damage requires repair, the displayed grade becomes IIIC instead. These category identifiers must not be averaged or treated as infection percentages.

Limitations and safety notes

No wound-length-only algorithm or infection prediction is supplied. Definitive assessment, contamination, perfusion and operative findings matter. A grade cannot choose antibiotics, fixation or limb reconstruction; every open fracture needs urgent specialist care.

References

  • https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6471139/

Editorial review and citation methodology

Maintained by the Quick Medical Calculator Editorial Team. Content record date: September 9, 2026. A content date is not evidence of independent clinical review. Individual clinical sign-off is not recorded on this page.

  • Prefer original validation studies for scoring systems and prediction tools.
  • Use current specialty society guidance, transplant allocation policy, public health guidance, or regulator resources when they govern clinical use.
  • Include limitations and safety notes when a calculator is population-specific, context-dependent, or unsuitable as a standalone decision tool.

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