A Comparative Study between Indigenous Low Cost Negative Pressure Wound Therapy with Added Local Oxygen versus Conventional Negative Pressure Wound Therapy

@#Introduction: The incidence of compound fractures and severe soft tissue loss has increased manifolds due to high speed traffics. Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) is a treatment modality for managing soft tissue aspect of such injuries. It reduces the need of flap coverage. However, many patients from developing countries cannot afford a conventional NPWT. We developed an indigenous low cost NPWT for our patients and supplemented it with Topical Pressurised Oxygen Therapy (TPOT). We conducted this study to compare its treatment outcome with the use of conventional NPWT. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted from 2018 to 2020 at a tertiary care teaching hospital. A total of 86 patients were treated with NPWT and their results were assessed for various parameters like reduction in wound size, discharge, infection, etc. We included patients with acute traumatic wounds as well as chronic infected wounds, and placed them in three treatment groups to receive either conventional NPWT, Indigenous NPWT and lastly NPWT with supplement TPOT. Results: We observed a significant reduction of wound size, discharge and infection control in all three groups. The efficacy of indigenous NPWT is at par with conventional NPWT. Only six patients who had several comorbidities required flap coverage while in another four patients we could not achieve desired result due to technical limitations. Conclusion: Indigenous NPWT with added TPOT is a very potent and cost effective method to control infection and rapid management of severe trauma seen in orthopaedic practice. It also decreases the dependency on plastic surgeons for management of such wounds.

Treatment of Wide Gap Non-Unions in Lower Extremities

PURPOSE: To analyze the end results of the treatment for patients with wide gap non-unions of the long bones in the lower extremities. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 62 cases of wide gap unions, with a mean age of 38 years, were included for analysis. Study cohort included six children under the age of seven years. The average size of established bone defect was 7 cm (4-23 cm). Bone defects under 7 cm were treated with plating and various bone grafts, and those over 7 cm were managed with vascularized fibular graft (VFG), distraction-osteogenesis, tibial strut, plating and etc. Two boys with a defect of the whole tibia but with an intact fibula were treated with tibialization of intact fibula and with rotation-plasty of the leg. Their end results were evaluated by the time of bony union in accordance with the treatment of defect size of the long bone as well as their age. RESULTS: Bony unions were obtained for an average period of at least 27 months. Fifty-one cases showed an average leg-length discrepancy of 2.8 cm, and 11 cases showed no leg-length discrepancy. The VFG, distraction-osteogenesis, and tibial cortical-strut graft and plating were the most effective methods for non-unions of wide, long bone defections (>7 cm). The prognosis was more favorable in children, muscular femur, and in cases with tibial defect but intact fí bula. CONCLUSION: Various bone union techniques should be considered carefully, considering the ages of patients and the size of bone defects. Due to severe physical and mental disabilities of patients during the long-treatment period, specialized orthopedic doctors for trauma and mental care were necessary.

Treatment of Wide Gap Non-Unions in Lower Extremities

PURPOSE: To analyze the end results of the treatment for patients with wide gap non-unions of the long bones in the lower extremities. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 62 cases of wide gap unions, with a mean age of 38 years, were included for analysis. Study cohort included six children under the age of seven years. The average size of established bone defect was 7 cm (4-23 cm). Bone defects under 7 cm were treated with plating and various bone grafts, and those over 7 cm were managed with vascularized fibular graft (VFG), distraction-osteogenesis, tibial strut, plating and etc. Two boys with a defect of the whole tibia but with an intact fibula were treated with tibialization of intact fibula and with rotation-plasty of the leg. Their end results were evaluated by the time of bony union in accordance with the treatment of defect size of the long bone as well as their age. RESULTS: Bony unions were obtained for an average period of at least 27 months. Fifty-one cases showed an average leg-length discrepancy of 2.8 cm, and 11 cases showed no leg-length discrepancy. The VFG, distraction-osteogenesis, and tibial cortical-strut graft and plating were the most effective methods for non-unions of wide, long bone defections (>7 cm). The prognosis was more favorable in children, muscular femur, and in cases with tibial defect but intact fí bula. CONCLUSION: Various bone union techniques should be considered carefully, considering the ages of patients and the size of bone defects. Due to severe physical and mental disabilities of patients during the long-treatment period, specialized orthopedic doctors for trauma and mental care were necessary.

Elección del esquema antibiótico ideal en el manejo de las fracturas compuestas de cráneo / Ideal antibiotic selection in the management of compound fractures of the skull

Objetivos: Entre las complicaciones más temidas de las fracturas de cráneo que comprometen la integridad de las capas que protegen el tejido encefálico, la infección de las estructuras intra y extracraneales por contaminación es la que más preocupa a los profesionales en salud, especialmente neurocirujanos ya que estos pacientes requieren procedimientos neuroquirúrgicos y la administración endovenosa de antimicrobianos. Se debe tomar en cuenta el tipo de patógenos relacionados con infecciones del sistema nervioso central así como las características físico-químicas de los antimicrobianos. En el presente estudio realizamos una comparación entre dos esquemas de antimicrobianos utilizados frecuentemente en nuestra institución para tratar fracturas abiertas contaminadas en cráneo. Métodos: Se estudiaron 64 pacientes con fracturas compuestas de cráneo y compromiso de duramadre a los cuales se les administro antimicrobianos endovenosos por diez días, se establecieron dos esquemas de tratamiento en base al espectro de acción y actividad a nivel del sistema nervioso central. Esquema A: penicilina + cloranfenicol + metronidazol, esquema B: ceftriaxona + vancomicina + metronidazol. Todos los pacientes recibieron tratamiento quirúrgico antes de 48 horas de producido el trauma. Resultados: El esquema antibiótico “B” no muestra beneficios sobre el esquema antibiótico “A” en los pacientes estudiados, la evolución fue satisfactoria en los dos grupos. Discusión: Nuestro estudio mostró que el manejo quirúrgico temprano y la terapia antimicrobiana endovenosa combinada disminuyen el riesgo de complicaciones por infección en el sistema nervioso central independientemente del esquema antibiótico utilizado. Se deben tener en cuenta costos en el tratamiento de estos pacientes.

Background: One of the most frightened complications of the compound fractures of the skull that compromises the integrity of the layers that protect the encephalic tissue is the infection of these intra-extra cranial structures from contaminated elements; this worries health personnel including neurosurgeons because these patients require neurosurgical procedures plus administration of antibiotics. One must consider the pathogens related most often with infections of the central nervous system and their physic and chemical features. Our study compares two schemes of antibiotics frequently used in our institution to treat contaminated compound fractures of the skull. Methods: We studied 64 patients diagnosed with cranial compound fractures that included damaged dural layer. We administered intravenously antibiotics for 10 days, two schemes of antibiotics where established for use based in spectrum and activity in the central nervous system. Scheme A: penicillin + cloramphenichol + metronidazole, scheme B: ceftriaxone + vancomicin + metronidazole. All patients receive neurosurgery between 1 and 48 hrs after head trauma. Results: Antibiotic scheme B showed no difference over scheme A in all studied patients, both groups had a satisfactory course. Conclusion: Our study showed that early surgical management in combination with intravenous antibiotics reduces the risk of complications due to contamination of central nervous system structures no matter of which antibiotic scheme is used.

THE SHORT-TERM REMOVABLE INTERMAXILLARY FIXATION CARE BY USE OF AN ADDITIVE INCISION & DRAINAGE ON THE ORAL LACERATION WOUNDS ADJACENT WITH MANDIBULAR COMPOUND FRACTURES: REPORT OF A CASE