Negative Pressure Wound Therapy in Infected Wound following Posterior Spinal Instrumentation using Simple Self-assembled System: A Case Report.

ABSTRACT: Postoperative wound infection in an instrumented spine patient is often disastrous. Management includes implant removal leading to spine instability. Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) applied to the spine surgical wound is one of the wound care technique with successful results. We report a case of a man who sustained Chance fracture of Lumbar 1 (L1) vertebra treated with long segment posterior instrumentation, who unfortunately developed Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) positive E. coli infection one month after the operation. After careful debridement of the wound, the implant became exposed. Three cycles of NPWT were applied and the wound healed with granulation tissue completely covering the implant, and thus negating the need to remove the implant. In conclusion, the NPWT is a good alternative in postoperative wound management especially in an instrumented spine patient. KEY WORDS: vacuum assisted closure, infection, instrumentation, spine.

Internal Fixation of Unstable Pelvic Ring Injuries via the Modified Stoppa Approach

Background: The modified Stoppa approach was first described in 1993 by Hirvensalo as an alternative to the ilioinguinal approach for treatment of pelvic ring fracture. Methods: This is a retrospective study of 5 patients with unstable pelvic fracture treated with internal fixation using the modified Stoppa approach. Residual displacement of the pelvic ring was measured and graded using the methods described by Matta and Lindahl. Functional outcomes were assessed using the modified Merle D Aubigne and Pos

Dynamic Hip Screw Fixation of Intertrochanteric Fractures of Femur: A Comparison of OutcomeWith and Without Using Traction Table

Intertrochanteric fracture of the femur is one of the commonfractures in the elderly. Dynamic Hip Screw (DHS) fixation is the gold standard for treatment of intertrochanteric femoral fracture. Conventional methods of achieving reduction prior to instrumentation require utilization of a traction table. A manual traction technique applied in the supine position using only a translucent table was devised to do away with the use of traction table. The rationale for this technique includes enhanced ease of set

Necrotizing Fasciitis of the Lower Limb A Prospective Study of Prognostic Factors Affecting Mortality

Necrotizing fasciitis is a life and limb threatening soft tissue infection with a high mortality rate. This study tries to identify the possible risk factors that contribute to mortality in patients with necrotizing fasciitis involving a lower limb. We prospectively reviewed 41 patients that presented with necrotizing fasciitis of the lower limb over a period of one year. Results show that the mortality rate for necrotizing fasciitis of the lower limb is quite high at 19.5%. Comparison among necrotizing fasciitis patients reveals that higher mortality rate is seen among those patients with advanced age and those presented with initial high pre operative creatinine levels. Sex, pre morbid diabetes mellitus, duration from initial symptoms to presentation for treatment and presence of streptococcus group A were not associated with an increased mortality rate. Neither were admission vital signs, subcutaneous gas on radiograph, prior antibiotic treatment on admission or clinical note of bullae formation.