title: Infection after an open supracondylar fracture above a total knee arthroplasty treated with the supracondylar nail.
abstract: A 72-year-old man with an open fracture above a total knee arthroplasty was treated with a supracondylar intramedullary nail. Five months after internal fixation, the patient developed a Staphylococcus aureus infection of the knee, which resolved after a 42-day course of IV antibiotics. After reimplantation with a posteriorly stabilized condylar total knee arthroplasty using femoral and tibial stems with vancomycin-impregnated cement, the patient has been pain-free and ambulatory at 8 months' follow-up. The supracondylar nail may be an acceptable internal fixation device for closed fractures above a total knee arthroplasty, but, if possible, open fractures in this location may be better treated with fixation devices that do not violate the knee joint.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Mayo Clinic/Mayo Foundati on, ochester, Minnesota, USA.
authors.forename: R T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Trousdale
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001858:Bone Nails; D005264:Femoral Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D005597:Fractures, Open / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007720:Knee Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D016459:Prosthesis-Related Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery*; D014640:Vancomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D014640:Vancomycin