Objective To explore the effect of information-motivation-behavioral skills (IMB) model-based nursing intervention on wound healing in patients with lower limb fracture complicated with skin and soft tissue defect. Methods A total of 78 patients with lower limb fracture complicated with skin and soft tissue defect admitted to our hospital from October 2023 to September 2025 were selected, and they were divided into the control group and the observation group by the random number table method, with 39 patients in each group. The control group received conventional nursing, and the observation group received IMB-based nursing intervention on the basis of the control group. The wound healing, psychological resilience, health behaviors and complications were compared between the two groups. Results The excellent and good rate of wound healing in the observation group (97.44%) was higher than that in the control group (82.05%) (P<0.05). After intervention, the scores of psychological resilience and health behaviors in the observation group were higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). The incidence of complications in the observation group (2.56%) was lower than that in the control group (15.38%) (P<0.05). Conclusion IMB-based nursing interventionhas a definite effect on patients with lower limb fracture complicated with skin and soft tissue defect. It can promote wound healing, improve psychological resilience level, facilitate the formation of healthy behaviors, and reduce the risk of complications.