J Korean Fract Soc.  1999 Apr;12(2):402-410.

Management for Postoperative Infection of Fractures

• Ahn EH
• Chung IW
• Oh JH
• Lee ST
• Kho DH

Abstract

It is often difficult to eradicate infection and achieve bony union in postoperative infection after fracture fixation. Authors treated 14 such cases from February 1992 to February 1998, and followed up for 6 to 35 months. The purpose of this study is to review the clinical features of the postoperative infection and assess the treatment modality which influence the time required for attaining bony union and healing of infection. The results were as follows : 1. Primary fixation were left in place in 5 cases of stable fixation, and new external fixation and/or another fixations were required in 8 cases of unstable fixation. 2. Time required for achieving union was 4.7 months for stable primary fixation and 12.8 months for unstable primary fixation. 3. Time required for healing in infection was 3.5 months for stable primary fixation and 14.4 months for unstable primary fixation. 4. Bony union was delayed as the number of surgical procedures were increased. 5. Antibiotic cement beads were inserted for 5 cases into bony defect and dead space after curettage and sequestrectomy, and pus discharge was stopped after 8.8 weeks in average.

Keyword

Postoperative infection; Fracture

MeSH Terms

Curettage
Fracture Fixation
Suppuration