Routine pin tract care in external fixation is unnecessary: A randomised, prospective, blinded controlled study

• Published in: Injury Vol. 43; no. 11; pp. 1969 - 1973
• Main Authors: Camathias, Carlo, Valderrabano, Victor, Oberli, Hermann
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Ltd 01.11.2012
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Bone Nails - adverse effects; Child; Child, Preschool; Double-Blind Method; External fixation; External Fixators - adverse effects; Female; Fracture Fixation - adverse effects; Fracture Fixation - instrumentation; Fractures, Bone - complications; Fractures, Bone - epidemiology; Humans; Infection; Male; Melanesia - epidemiology; Middle Aged; Orthopedics; Pin tract care; Pin tract infection; Prospective Studies; Soft Tissue Infections - epidemiology; Soft Tissue Infections - pathology; Soft Tissue Infections - prevention & control; Surgical Wound Infection - epidemiology; Surgical Wound Infection - pathology; Surgical Wound Infection - prevention & control; Traction - instrumentation; Melanesia; Infection; External fixation; Pin tract infection; Pin tract care

Pin site infections are seen in up to 40% of external fixators (ExFix) and are therefore the most common complication with this device. There is no consensus in the literature as to the appropriate regimen for pin tract care and infection prevention. This study is the first intra-subject, randomised...