Nonunion and malunion due to insidious infection after internal fixation of bone fractures / 中华创伤骨科杂志

Objective To explore an effective prevention and management of nonunion and malunion due to insidious infection after fracture internal fixation. Methods From January 2001 to January 2006,we treated 26 patients with nonunion and malunion due to insidious infection after fracture internal fixation.They were 15 cases of femoral fractures, 2 cases of ulna fractures, 3 cases of radial fracturos, 3 cases of humerus fractures, and 3 cases of tibial fractures. The patients were treated with irrigation after debridement.In 23 fractures, the internal fixation was dislodged and changed into external fixation. In the 3 cases whose internal fixation remained, instillation and drainage were conducted after debridement. Bone grafting was performed for 20 cases after replacement of internal fixation, and for 3 cases after removal of external fixation.Three patients received no bone graft. Results The preoperative X-ray findings confirmed the diagnosis of insidious infection in 21 cases, while the other 5 cases were diagnosed by bacterial culture or pathological examination of the pus and inflammatory granulation tissue found during surgery. The bacterial culture was positive in 17 cases, including 6 cases of Staphylococcus epidermidis, 8 cases of Staphylococcus aureus, and 3 cases of Escherichia coli. All the patients were followed up for 8 to 48 months, with an average of 23.5 months. Of the 26 cases, 22 obtained bony union, 2 partial union and 2 nonunion. Complications included fistula in 2 patients and infection relapse in 3 patients. Conclusions Insidious infection may be related to the bacterial toxicity, anatomical sites and surgical methods. X-ray changes may help the diagnosis of insidious infection. Surgery is necessary for management of nonunion and malunion due to insidious infection after fracture internal fixation.

Prevention of bone infection using calcium alginate gel compound vancomycin: Do administration routes influence pharmacological action? / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND: Systemic administrations are widely used in preventing or curing bone infections, however, it accompanied by great adverse reactions and limited local blood drug levels. Therefore, local administration becomes a research focus, which aimed to explore a carrier possess good biocompatibility and slow-release antibiotics. OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of calcium alginate gel compound vancomycin on prevention of bone infection, simultaneously, single drug was injected or implanted into models to compare the results.METHODS: A total of 60 healthy adult New Zealand white rabbits were prepared for osteomyelitis models by injecting Staphylococcus auraus to right tibiae medullaris, and randomly divided into systemic treatment, tricalcium phosphate and calcium alginate gel groups. After model preparation, rabbits in the systemic treatment group were intramuscular injected vancomycin (0.03 g, twice per day, for 4 successive days); in the triceicium phosphate group, 1 g tricalcium phosphate combined with 0.1 g vancomycin.was filled in the defects, sealed with bone wax. In the calcium alginate gel group, calcium alginate gel combined with vancomycin was implanted. Gross observation, radiological image and histological analysis were performed at weeks 4 and 8 after operation.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Local swelling and partial sinus were found in the systemic treatment and tricalcium phosphate groups after operation. The pathological slice showed that there were a large number of lymphocytes and some sequestrum in the systemic treatment and tricelcium phosphate groups. However, there was no manifestation of osteomyelitis in the calcium alginate gel group. The results suggested that calcium alginate gel compound vancomycin exhibit superior therapeutic effect on prevention of bone infection to local administration of calcium alginate gel combined with vancomycin or systemic application of vancomycin.

Clinical analysis of percutaneous autologous bone marrow transplantation to heal malunion of fracture induced by infections in 19 cases / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND: Autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT) has been widely used in treatment of the malunion of fracture, but this treatment to cure malunion of fracture induced by infection is still not consistent.OBJECTIVE: To observe the application and clinical outcome of ABUT for the malunion of fracture induced by infection.DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: A retrospective analysis. The patients were all enrolled at Department of Orthopaedics in the Third Affiliated Hospital of Hebei Medical University from January 2001 to January 2006. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 19 patients with malunion of fracture induced by infection, including 13 males and 6 females aged from 18 to 50 years, with an average of 36. The lesioned site contained fracture of tibia 10, fracture of femur 5, fracture of ulna 2 and fracture of humerus 2. Among them, there were 6 cases with bone defect, 9 cases with bone fracture delayed union and 4 cases with bone fracture disunion.METHODS: Nineteen patients treated with percutaneous ABUT. Among the 19 cases, 12 patients received the transplant 3 weeks after infection was under controlled, and other 8 patients received the transplant following autologous bone transplantation.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: After ABMT, all patients were checked using X-ray regularly, the pacing of bone union was traced through observing the growth of callus, and the side reaction was also detected.RESULTS: Totally 19 patients were included in the follow-up visit, and 15 cases of them achieved bony union. Clinical healing time was 7-20 weeks. The patients had no obvious discomforts except local gas pains when injecting and at pristine time after injection. Five patients had a small quantity of exudation. No infection relapse or soft tissue ossification were observed at the injection position. Four patients had not achieved bony union, the reason was that bone defect in 2 patients exceed 2 cm; fracture disunion with pseudoarticulation formatted in one patient, the sclerous broken ends of fractured bone was more than 2 cm; another patient's external fixation displaced, we adjusted it and the bone healed after 12 weeks. Three patients received autoallergic ilium bone transplantation in the second time of operation, the fractured bone got bony union. CONCLUSION: ABMT by percutaneous injection into malunion site can induce ossification, repair bone fracture and bone defects. The clinical application is simple and exhibits small wounds without complications. Especially ABMT is effective for the patient with the malunion of fracture induced by infection.

Diagnosis and treatment of insidious infection after the long bone fracture internal fixation / 中国矫形外科杂志

[Objective]To study diagnosis and treatment of insidious infection after the internal fixation of long bone fracture.[Method]Thirteen patients with insidious infection after internal fixation of long bone fracture were treated with irrigation after debridment. Among the 13 cases 8 fractures were dislodged internal fixation and then were fixed with the external fixation. 5 fractures were remained the internal fixation and were instilled after debridment. All of the patients were given with antibiotics for 2～3 weeks after operation.[Result]All the 13 patients were followed up. The follow-ranged from 8 to 48 months with an average of 23.5 months. Among the thirteen patients 11 fractured-bone had bony union, one nonunion and one case had fistula, Infection relapsed in two patients.[Conclusion]Bone defects, fracture nonunion often occur on patients who have insidious infection after internal fixation of long bone fracture. These patients need to be operated. In slight infections fracture can be remained after debridement. Fractures with seriously infectious have to dislodge internal fixation and to be fixed with made according to its radiographic changes.