Efficacy evaluation of early debridement implant removal for infection after internal fixation of tibial fracture / 中华创伤杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To compare the efficacy of early and delayed removal of debridement implant for infection after internal fixation of tibial fracture.Methods A retrospective case control study was conducted on the clinical data of 27 patients with tibial fractures who received plate or screw internal fixation admitted to the East Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University from March 2005 to September 2016.There were 21 males and six females,aged 18-81 years [(41.6 ± 14.3)years].According to the treatment methods,the patients were divided into the delayed implant removal group (Group A,10 patients) and the early implant removal group (Group B,17 patients).Group A was given debridement and anti infection treatment followed by continuous dressing change,and the implant was removed after the fractures were healed.Group B was given debridement and implant removal after one month of anti infection treatment and continuous dressing change when the infection was not clearly controlled.Patients with stable fracture ends were given only negative pressure closed drainage (VSD),and those with instable fracture ends were given external fixation and VSD.The time from infection to implant removal,the time of infection control,the fracture nonunion rate,the chronic bone infection rate,the knee joint function score of the American Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS),and the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle hindfoot scale were compared between the two groups.Results All patients were followed up for 13-47 months,with the average of 28.4 months.There were significant differences between Group A and Group B in terms of the time from infection to implant removal [(49.9 17.1) weeks ∶ (19.3 ± 9.2) weeks],the time of infection control [(85.3 ±78.3)days∶ (6.3 ±2.8)days],fracture nonunion rate (30％ ∶ 0),and the chronic osteomyelitis incidence (30％ ∶ 0) (all P ＜0.05).No significant differences were found in HSS knee joint function score and AOFAS ankle hindfoot scale between the two groups (both P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion For patients with postoperative infection after internal fixation for tibial fracture,early thorough debridement and implant removal can quickly control the infection and reduce the incidence of nonunion and osteomyelitis.