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Review
. 2019 Jul 15;4(7):468-475.
doi: 10.1302/2058-5241.4.180093. eCollection 2019 Jul.

Infection after fracture fixation

Sylvain Steinmetz  1 , Diane Wernly  1 , Kevin Moerenhout  1 , Andrej Trampuz  2 , Olivier Borens  1
Affiliations
Review

Infection after fracture fixation

Sylvain Steinmetz et al. EFORT Open Rev. .

Abstract

Infection after fracture fixation is a feared complication in orthopaedic surgery leading to poor bone healing and loss of function.Early detection is essential and interdisciplinary care is mandatory.Eradication of infection is only possible through combined surgical and antibiotic treatment.Intraoperative tissue samples must be taken and are effective for guidance of the antibiotic regimen.Infection after fracture fixation is different from prosthetic joint infection (PJI) and needs a specific strategy.In this review, we define infection after fracture fixation, and outline the clinical, radiological and laboratory signs of these infections, as well as a treatment algorithm for optimal patient care. Cite this article: EFORT Open Rev 2019;4:468-475. DOI: 10.1302/2058-5241.4.180093.

Keywords: antibiotic therapy; biofilm; fracture fixation device; fracture-related infection; internal fixation infection; orthopaedic implant infection.

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Conflict of interest statement

ICMJE Conflict of interest statement: AT reports grants from Zimmer Biomet paid to his institution outside the submitted work and travel/accommodation/meeting expenses unrelated to activities listed paid to him by Biocomposites. OB reports board membership paid to his institution by Orthopaedic Society, EBJIS, AO Trauma Switzerland; consultancy paid to his institution by Medacta, Heraeus, Zimmer, Lima; grants/grants pending paid to his institution by Heraeus,Bonesupport, Matthys, AO Trauma Switzerland; payment for lectures including service on speakers bureaus by Medacta, Heraeus, Orthofix, Zimmer, all outside the permitted work. All other authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Multidisciplinary diagnostic algorithm for infection after fracture fixation (IAFF), suggested by Metsemakers et al.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Treatment algorithm for infection after fracture fixation.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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