No clinical benefits using a new design of pins for external fixation: a randomized study in 50 patients operated on by the hemicallotasis technique.
BACKGROUND
Pin-site infection and pin loosening are complications that can cause discomfort to the patients. The purpose of present study was to evaluate pin-site infection, pain, and the use of medications using the XCaliber pin (Orthofix) with optimized thread and tip design, and the commonly used standard pin (Orthofix) during the procedure of hemicallotasis osteotomy (HCO).


METHODS
Fifty patients of mean age 51 (35-66) years treated with HCO were randomized to standard pins (Orthofix) or XCaliber pins (Orthofix). Hydroxyapatite-coated pins were used in the metaphyseal bone and non-coated pins in the diaphyseal bone in both groups. Pin sites, pain, and the use of medications were evaluated weekly during the HCO.


RESULTS
At week 7 the patients in the XCaliber group had more pain at rest [19 (22) vs. 5 (5) mm, P = 0.01] and during activity [32 (32) vs. 12 (13) mm, P = 0.02] and used more paracetamol (2,100 vs. 925 mg, P = 0.04) than those in the standard group, with similar differences, until the extraction of the pins. There was no difference in the use of antibiotics [10.5 (14.5) days (XCaliber) vs. 7 (7.5) days (standard) (P = 0.16)].


CONCLUSIONS
The commonly used standard pin has important clinical- and patient-related benefits.
W-Dahl
Annette
A
Department of Orthopedics, Lund University Hospital, Lund, Sweden. Annette.W-Dahl@med.lu.se
Toksvig-Larsen
Sören
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis; D001858:Bone Nails; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D004867:Equipment Design; D004869:Equipment Safety; D016267:External Fixators; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D010027:Osteotomy / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000503:physiopathology; D011336:Probability; D011859:Radiography; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012016:Reference Values; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000517:prevention & control; D013977:Tibia / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible