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ABSTRACT: Objective
(1) To assess the rate of fracture-related infection (FRI) and unplanned reoperation of disinfecting and prepping in the external fixator (Ex-Fix) instrument during definitive open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) of pilon fractures treated by a staged protocol and (2) to determine whether the amount of time from external fixation to ORIF influences the risk of FRI.Design
Retrospective cohort study.Setting
Level 1 academic trauma center.Patients
One hundred thirty-three patients who underwent operative treatment for pilon fracture between 2010 and 2020.Intervention
External fixation and ORIF with or without the Ex-Fix prepped in situ during definitive fixation.Main outcome measurements
FRI and unplanned reoperation rates.Results
133 patients were enrolled, of which 47 (35.3%) had Ex-Fix elements prepped in situ. There was an overall infection rate of 23.3% and unplanned reoperation rate of 11.3%, and there was no significant difference in rates between the 2 cohorts. Patients with Ex-Fix elements prepped in situ who developed an FRI had a higher rate of MRSA and MSSA . Diabetes ( P = 0.0019), open fracture ( P = 0.0014), and longer (≥30 days) interval to ORIF ( P = 0.0001) were associated with postoperative FRI.Conclusions
Prepping elements of the Ex-Fix in situ did not lead to an increase in rates of FRI or unplanned reoperation. Although diabetes and open fracture were associated with FRI risk, a stronger association was a longer interval of Ex-Fix utilization before definitive internal fixation, specifically 30 days or greater.Level of evidence
Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
SUBMITTER: Yeramosu T
PROVIDER: S-EPMC10524202 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Sep
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

Yeramosu Teja T Young Porter P Cinats David J DJ Toney Clarence B CB Satpathy Jibanananda J Patel Tejas T TT Kates Stephen L SL Perdue Paul W PW
Journal of orthopaedic trauma 20230901 9
<h4>Objective</h4>(1) To assess the rate of fracture-related infection (FRI) and unplanned reoperation of disinfecting and prepping in the external fixator (Ex-Fix) instrument during definitive open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) of pilon fractures treated by a staged protocol and (2) to determine whether the amount of time from external fixation to ORIF influences the risk of FRI.<h4>Design</h4>Retrospective cohort study.<h4>Setting</h4>Level 1 academic trauma center.<h4>Patients</h4>On ...[more]