ABSTRACT
PURPOSE@#Open tibia fracture is prone to infection, consequently causing significant morbidity and increasing the hospital stay, occupational loss and onset of chronic osteomyelitis. Intramedullary nailing is one choice for treating tibia shaft fractures. To improve the delivery of antibiotics at the tissue-implant interface, many methods have been proposed as a part of prophylaxis against infection. This study was conducted to study the role of gentamicin-impregnated intramedullary interlocking (IMIL) nail in the prevention of infection in Gustilo type I and II open tibia fractures and to compare the results with regular intramedullary nail.@*METHODS@#The study included 28 patients with open tibia fractures (Gustilo type 1 or type 2); of them 14 underwent regular IMIL nailing and the other 14 were treated with gentamicin-coated nailing. Randomization was done by alternate allocation of the patients. Follow-up was done postoperatively (day 1), 1 week, 6 weeks, and 6 months for bone union, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), hemoglobin and C-reactive protein (CRP). Statistical significance was tested using unpaired t-test. A p value less than 0.05 was considered significant.@*RESULTS@#There were 4 cases of infection in controls (regular IMIL nail) and no infection among patients treated with gentamicin-coated nail during the follow up (X = 4.66, p = 0.031). At 6 months postoperatively, CRP (p = 0.031), ESR (p = 0.046) and hemoglobin level (p = 0.016) showed significant difference between two groups. The bone healing rate was better with gentamicin-coated nail in comparison to regular IMIL nail at 6 months follow-up (p = 0.016).@*CONCLUSION@#Gentamicin-coated IMIL nail has a positive role in preventing infection in Gustilo type I and II open tibia fractures.
ABSTRACT
Open fracture characteristically has higher chances of infection and sof tissue damage in comparison with closed fracture. In spite of the development of operation methods and antibiotics, complications such as infection, nonunion, delayed union, and joint stiffness are continuously confronted as problems in the field of orthopedics. Different methods of treatment have been advocated as regards the care of the open wound and the method of stabilization of the fracture fragments. Therefore a comparative analysis of the type of open fracture and the bone union time according to the initial treatment methods was made from 47 cases over the age of 20, who were followed up until bone union developed among the inpatients who were treated for open fracture of tibia in the period of 7 years from January, 1982 to December, 1988, and the results are as follows: 1. The highest incidence of fractures was encountered in 3rd decade(34%) and male to female ratio was 6:l. 2. The most common cause of fractures was traffic accident(76.6%). 3. The most common level of fracture was in mid one-third and the bone union time was longest in mid one-third. 4. The bone union time was longer, and the rate of complication was greater in order of type 1, 2 & 3 according to Gustilo's classification. 5. The good result was obtained in type 1 fractures, by using the closed reduction & cast immobilization and pin & plaster method; in type 2, the bone union time was shortest in the cases of pin & plater method; in type 3, the bone union time was shortest in the cases of closed reduction or open, reduction & external fixation. 6. Bone union was obtained in all cases of delayed union and nonunion and the bone union time was shortest in cases treated with plate & bone graft.