title: Outcome of infection following internal fixation of closed fractures.
abstract: A retrospective study was done in 30 patients with infected closed fractures treated initially by open reduction and internal fixation. Nineteen fractures involved the femur, 8 the tibia, 2 the radius and 1 the ulna. Twenty-five were diaphyseal and 5 metaphyseal. Twenty-two fractures had initially been treated with plating and 8 with intramedullary nailing. Thirteen patients presented in the acute phase and 17 in the subacute phase of infection. Twenty-two patients presented with low grade infection and 8 with florid infection. The commonest organism isolated was Staphylococcus aureus (80%), of which fifty four percent was resistant to Methicillin (MRSA). This study showed that 77% of infected fractures with a stable implant united even in the presence of infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Traumatology and Rehabilitation, Kulliyyah of Medicine International Islamic University Malaysia, Kuantan.
authors.forename: M Y
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Nazri
authors.forename: Y A
authors.initials: YA
authors.lastname: Halin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017102:Fracture Healing; D005596:Fractures, Closed / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010019:Osteomyelitis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome