title: The care of pin sites with external fixation.
abstract: Two protocols for the operative technique and care of the pin-site with external fixation were compared prospectively. There was a total of 120 patients with 46 in group A and 74 in group B. Infection was defined as an episode of pain or inflammation at a pin site, accompanied by a discharge which was either positive on bacterial culture or responded to a course of antibiotics. Patients in group B had a lower proportion of infected pin sites (p = 0.003) and the time to the first episode of infection was longer (p < 0.001). The risk of pin-site infection is lower if attention is paid to avoiding thermal injury and local formation of haematoma during surgery and if after-care includes the use of an alcoholic antiseptic and occlusive pressure dressings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Royal Liverpool Children's Hospital, Alder Hey, Eaton Road, Liverpool L12 2AP, UK.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Holt
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nayagam
mesh_terms: D001858:Bone Nails; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D005592:Fracture Fixation / Q000379:methods*; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D023821:Limb Salvage / Q000379:methods; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000517:prevention & control; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013997:Time Factors