Pin tract infection is one of the most frequently reported complications associated with the use of external fixation. Application of compression dressings to prevent motion at the pin-skin interface as well as periodic antiseptic cleansing of the pin sites has been advocated; however, no consensus has been reached on the most effective method of pin site care. This retrospective study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of a weekly, physician-directed pin site care protocol on reducing the rate of pin tract infections in a high-risk patient population.
Öznur A., Zgonis T.Closure of major diabetic foot wounds and defects with external fixation. Clin Podiatr Med Surg. 2007;24(3):519-528.
2.
Ziran BH, Smith WR, Anglen JO, Tornetta P.External fixation: how to make it work. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2007;89(7):1620-1632.
3.
Catagni MA, Ottaviani G., Combi A., Elhence A.External circular fixation: a comparison of infection rates between wires and conical half pins with threads outside or inside the skin. J Trauma. 2006;61(5):1186-1191.
4.
Davies R., Holt N., Nayagam S.The care of pin sites with external fixation. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 2005;87(5):716-719.
5.
Wang JC, Le AW, Tsukuda RKA new technique for Charcot's foot reconstruction. J Am Podiatr Med Assoc. 2002;92(8):429-436.
6.
Coester LM, Nepola V., Allen J., Law J.The effects of silver coated external fixation pins. Iowa Orthop J. 2006;26:48-53.
7.
Parameswaran AD, Roberts CS, Seligson D., Voor M.Pin tract infection with contemporary external fixation: how much of a problem? J Orthop Trauma. 2003;17(7):503-507.
8.
Forster H., Marotta JS, Heseltine K., Milner R., Jani S.Bactericidal activity of antimicrobial coated polyurethane sleeves for external fixation pins. J Orthop Res. 2004;22(3):671-677.
Saw A., Chan CK, Penafort R., Sengupta S.A simple practical protocol for care of metal-skin interface of external fixation . Med J Malaysia. 2006;61(suppl A): 62-65.
11.
Rogers LC, Bevilacqua NJ, Frykberg RG, Armstrong DGPredictors of postoperative complications of Ilizarov external ring fixators in the foot and ankle. J Foot Ankle Surg. 2007;46(5):372-375.
12.
Moroni A., Vannini F., Mosca M., Giannini S.State of the art review: techniques to avoid pin loosening and infection in external fixation. J Orthop Trauma. 2002;16(3):189-195.
13.
Sian PS, Britten S., Duffield B.The care of pin sites with external fixation. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 2006;88(4):558.
