Managing soft tissues in severe lower limb trauma in an ageing population.

Purpose: With an ageing population, the incidence of trauma in those aged over 65 years is increasing. Strategies for dealing with these patients must be developed. At present the standard management of open tibial fractures in the UK is described by the BOAST4 guidelines (from the British Orthopaedic Association and British Association of Plastic & Aesthetic Surgeons).