title: Incidence and severity of infections after closed reduction and external fixation of proximal humeral fractures.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to evaluate the incidence and severity of pin tract infections in a series of patients treated by Closed reduction external fixation (CREF) for proximal humeral fractures.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective review of medical charts and radiographs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Academic level-1 trauma center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-six consecutive patients (20 males, 26 females, mean age 50 years (range 20-90 years) with proximal humeral fractures treated by CREF were enrolled into the study based on data retrieved from medical charts and radiographs.
  
  
  METHODS
  None.
  
  
  METHODS
  Evaluation of the incidence and severity of post-CREF pin tract infections.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All 46 fractures healed after an average of 4 weeks. There were 18 (39.1%) cases of pin tract infections whose most common bacteria colonization was gram-positive. Pin tract infections were significantly higher among patients with multiple fragment fractures and multiple pins. Treatment consisting of oral or intravenous antibiotics was effective in all cases, and the infection was resolved within 2 weeks at most.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most pin tract infections were managed with systemic antibiotics with good results. The occurrence of pin tract infection did not require a change of the stabilization method and none of the patients required revision of their CREF.
authors: The Shoulder Unit, Division of Orthopedic Surgery, Tel Aviv Medical Center, Tel Aviv University Sacker Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv, Israel. lish3@hotmail.com
authors: Lior
authors: L
authors: Shabtai
authors: Oleg
authors: O
authors: Dolkart
authors: Ofir
authors: O
authors: Chechik
authors: Eyal
authors: E
authors: Amar
authors: Eli
authors: E
authors: Steinberg
authors: Gabriel
authors: G
authors: Mozes
authors: Eran
authors: E
authors: Maman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001858:Bone Nails / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016267:External Fixators / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005592:Fracture Fixation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012784:Shoulder Fractures / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D055815:Young Adult