title: Pin-tract infection during limb lengthening using external fixation.
abstract: We evaluated the incidence of pin-tract infection (PTI) during limb lengthening using external fixation in 88 patients and the effects of infection on final outcomes and incidence of additional procedures. The PTI rate was 96.6%. The rate of half-pin site infection was significantly (P<.05) higher in half-pin fixators (100%) than in hybrid fixators (78%). There was a significantly (P<.05) higher incidence of half-pin site infection (78%) than fine-wire site infection (33%). The rate of additional surgeries for treating PTI was higher for half-pin sites than for fine-wire sites. Three (3.4%) of the 88 cases led to chronic osteomyelitis. Careful insertion and a simple, well-defined, excellent pin-care protocol can minimize PTI.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation, Texas Tech University, Health Sciences Center, Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, El Paso, Texas, USA. viantoci@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Valentin
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Antoci
authors.forename: Craig M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Ono
authors.forename: Valentin
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Antoci
authors.forename: Ellen M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Raney
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001852:Bone Lengthening / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D001858:Bone Nails / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001864:Bone Wires / Q000009:adverse effects; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016267:External Fixators / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005269:Femur / Q000601:surgery; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D019857:Osteogenesis, Distraction / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D011336:Probability; D012086:Reoperation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D013977:Tibia / Q000601:surgery; D055815:Young Adult