title: Infection in diabetic patients with ankle fractures.
abstract: Between January 1992 to June 1993, 93 ankle fractures underwent surgical treatment, of which, 10 patients were diabetic and 83 were non-diabetic. Infection occurred in 5 patients and all belonged to the diabetic group. The average follow-up period of the infected cases was 16.2 months. Wound infection occurred in 4 patients treated with open reduction and internal fixation. An infected pressure sore developed in the other patient treated initially in a below-knee cast for which arthrodesis of the ankle was performed. Infection was resistant to treatment in 2 patients and they ended up with below-knee amputation. Infection resolved in 3 patients with treatment. Of these, 1 developed neuropathic ankle joint and the other 2 achieved fracture union.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery O, Singapore General Hospital.
authors.forename: C K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Low
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Tan
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D016512:Ankle Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000209:etiology; D014946:Wound Infection / Q000209:etiology