- See: tibia fracture menu (open tibia fractures);
- Discussion:
- worst prognostic feature for healing of tibial frxs is infection;
- osteomyelitis of tibia & infected non unions are among the most severe complications after tibial frx, & may lead to amputation;
- probability of infection is related to severity of trauma (see Gustillo classification) and condition of the local environment and
compromise of host Cierny classification);
- infection is most frequent after high velocity, open injuries w/ skin necrosis or skin loss & after ORIF w/ failed flaps or skin coverage;
- smoking:
- Impact of smoking on fracture healing and risk of complications in limb-threatening open tibia fractures.
- Deleterious effect of smoking on healing of open tibia-shaft fractures.
- [Adverse effects if smoking on healing of bones and soft tissues].
- Cigarette smoking and open tibial fractures
- bacteriology:
- note that the most frequently identified organisms in open tibial fractures are staph aureus and nocosomial organisms;
- references:
- Accuracy of cultures swabbing of superficial aspect of wound and needle biopsy in preop assessment of osteomyelitis.
- What is the Rate of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Gram-negative Infections in Open Fractures?
- biofilm:
- aggregation of microbe colonies with in extracellular polysaccharide matrix (glycocalyx) which is adherent to
surface of metal implants or devitalized bone;
- references:
- Pathophysiology of Infections After Internal Fixation of Fractures.
- Bacterial adherence to biomaterials and tissue. The significance of its role in clinical sepsis.
- Application of a rat osteomyelitis model to compare in vivo and in vitro the antibiotic efficacy against bacteria with high capacity to form biofilms.
- Radiographic Studies:
- look for bone resorption, periosteal or endosteal new bone formation, cortical irregularities, and sequestrum;
- involucrum: reactive new bone which is formed inorder to contain the infection;
- sinograms may delineate extent of infected area;
- CT and/or MRI may be useful in some situations;
- references:
- Disease activity in osteomyelitis: role of radiography.
- Current concepts in posttraumatic osteomyelitis: a diagnostic challenge with new imaging options.
- Osteomyelitis: characteristics and pitfalls of diagnosis with MR imaging.
- Treatment Considerations:
- antibiotics for osteo
- preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative antibiotic treatment will lower incidence of deep wound infections;
- acute frx debridement: and management of sequestrum
- pressure irrigation:
- references:
- Osteomyelitis in grade II and III open tibia fractures with late debridement.
- Maintenance of Hardware After Early Postoperative Infection Following Fracture Internal Fixation
- soft tissue management:
- wound management and contaminated wound care:
- antibiotic bead pouch placed in bony defects;
- wound vac
- references:
- Local antibiotic therapy in the treatment of open fractures and osteomyelitis.
- Newer methods of antimicrobial delivery for bone and joint infections.
- Negative pressure dressings as an alternative technique for the treatment of infected wounds.
- soft tissue coverage: soft tissue coverage may be necessary for large defects;
- tibia fracture fixation (open tibia fractures);
- IM nailing:
- if nail removal is required, then consider reaming canal after nail removal as a method of debridement;
- see addition of antibiotics to cement
- references:
- Infection after intramedullary nailing of the tibia. Incidence and protocol for management.
- Diagnosis and management of infection after tibial intramedullary nailing.
- Infection after reamed intramedullary nailing of the tibia: a case series review.
- Intramedullary infections treated with antibiotic cement rods: preliminary results in nine cases.
- The antibiotic cement nail for infection after tibial nailing.
- Antibiotic Cement-Coated Interlocking Nail for the Treatment of Infected Nonunions and Segmental Bone Defects.
- Staged Bone Grafting Following Placement of an Antibiotic Spacer for Management of Segmental Long Bone Defects
- Antibiotic Cement Screw for Postoperative Infection After Gamma Nailing
- Use of antibiotic cement-impregnated intramedullary nail in treatment of infected non-union of long bones
- external fixators:
- provides easy access to wounds during bone healing;
- w/ osteomyelitis, internal fixation may be left in place if it is stable until fracture healing takes place;
- circular wire fixators: (see management of tibial bone defects)
- when Ilizarov is used in conjunction w/ radical resection and distraction histiogenesis, patients can expect at
least one minor complication;
- bone union averages 6 months once intercalary segments come into contact;
- references:
- Use of Ilizarov Technique for Treatment of Non-Union of the Tibia Associated with Infection.
- The prevention of infection in open fractures: an experimental study of the effect of fracture stability.
- Single-stage surgical treatment of infected nonunion of the distal tibia
- management of tibial bone defects:
- bone grafting:
- posteromedial or posterolateral bone grafting can be done w/o disrupting non unions if alignment is satisfactory;
- references:
- Results of bone grafting for infected tibial nonunion.
- Antibiotic autogenic cancellous bone grafting is an effective and safe method for the management of small infected tibial defects
- management of the infected non union:
- an infected non union is a relative indication for amputation;
- references:
- Treatment of sequestra, pseudarthroses, and defects in the long bones of children who have chronic hematogenous osteomyelitis.
- Infected Nonunion of the Tibia.
Results of treatment of tibial and femoral osteomyelitis in adults.
The influence of skeletal implants on incidence of infection. Experiments in a canine model.
Long-term results of multiple-stage treatment for posttraumatic osteomyelitis of the tibia.
The management of chronic osteomyelitis using the Lautenbach method.
Outcomes in open tibia fractures: relationship between delay in treatment and infection.
Posttraumatic tibial osteomyelitis: a comparison of three treatment approaches.
The Treatment of Chronic Open Osteomyelitis of the Tibia in Adults.