title: Course of treatment and rate of successful salvage following the diagnosis of deep infection in patients treated for pilon fractures (AO/OTA: 43).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study is to report the rate of successful salvage and describe typical treatment course for patients with infected pilon fractures.
  
  
  METHODS
  This investigation was performed after gathering a Six-year retrospective database from a single academic trauma center including patients with pilon fractures diagnosed with post-operative deep infection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  These include a rate of successful salvage in patients diagnosed with deep infection of 88.5% (46/52). Patients who were successfully salvaged required an average of 3.5 (±2.3) procedures following diagnosis of infection, 2.5 (±1.5) debridements and 1.1 (±1.2) reconstructive procedures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Considerable morbidity follows the diagnosis of deep infection, with 14% of patients ultimately treated with amputation. Successful salvage can be reliably anticipated in over 80% of patients, but typically requires more than 3 additional procedures.
authors.affiliation: Vanderbilt Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, Orthopedic Trauma Institute, Nashville, TN 37232, USA.
authors.forename: Cesar S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Molina
authors.affiliation: Vanderbilt Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, Orthopedic Trauma Institute, Nashville, TN 37232, USA.
authors.forename: Daniel J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Stinner
authors.affiliation: Vanderbilt Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, Orthopedic Trauma Institute, Nashville, TN 37232, USA.
authors.forename: Andrew R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Fras
authors.affiliation: Vanderbilt Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, Orthopedic Trauma Institute, Nashville, TN 37232, USA.
authors.forename: Jason M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Evans
keywords: Amputation; Deep infection; Pilon fracture; Salvage