Gustilo-Anderson Open Fracture Classification
Gustilo-Anderson open-fracture classification: the Type III subtype is set by coverage and perfusion (arterial injury → IIIC, flap coverage → IIIB), not wound size alone.
Open the calculator → Runs in your browser. Data leaves only if you deliberately send a problem report from the interactive tool.
Example
- Wound size
- 1–10 cm, moderate (Type II range)
- Arterial injury requiring repair
- Yes
Result: Gustilo-Anderson Type IIIC. Type IIIC — open fracture with an arterial injury requiring repair, irrespective of wound size or soft-tissue grade; involve vascular surgery for revascularization.
The tool opens with these values already filled in. Replace them with your own.
What the result means
- I / II
- I = wound < 1 cm, clean, low-energy; II = 1–10 cm, moderate soft-tissue damage with adequate coverage. Rising infection risk with grade.
- III A/B/C
- set by coverage and perfusion, not wound size: IIIA adequate coverage, IIIB needs a flap, IIIC needs arterial repair. High-energy/segmental or > 10 cm is at least III.
What you enter
- Wound size (< 1 cm / 1–10 cm / > 10 cm)
- Extensive soft-tissue injury / high-energy mechanism
- Inadequate coverage requiring a flap (→ IIIB)
- Arterial injury requiring repair (→ IIIC)
How this is calculated
Gustilo RB, Anderson JT. Prevention of infection in the treatment of one thousand and twenty-five open fractures of long bones. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1976;58(4):453-458. Type III subtypes: Gustilo, Mendoza, Williams. J Trauma. 1984;24(8):742-746. Read the source ↗
A reference and educational tool. Not medical, legal, or financial advice, and not a substitute for clinician judgment.