摘要
AIM To investigate the effectiveness of a two-stage surgical procedure for the treatment of septic forearm non-union.METHODS Septic non-unions are rare complications of forearm fractures. When they occur, they modify the relationship between forearm bones leading to a severe functional impairment. Treatment is challenging and surgery and antibiotic therapy are required to achieve infection resolution. It is even harder to obtain non-union healing with good functional results. The aim of this study is to present a two stages surgical treatment for septic forearm non-union with revision and temporary stabilization of the non-union until infection has cleared and subsequently perform a new synthesis with plate, opposite bone graft strut and intercalary graft. We retrospectively reviewed 18 patients with a mean age at the time of primary injury of 34.5 years(19-57 years) and a mean follow-up of 6 years(2-10 years). All patients presented an atrophic nonunion with a mean length of the bone defect of 1.8 cm(1.2-4 cm). Complications and clinical results after surgical treatment were recorded. RESULTS Mean time to resolution of the infectious process was 8.2 wk(range 4-20 wk) after the first surgery and specific antibiotic therapy. All the non-union healed with an average time of 5 mo(range 2-10 mo) after the second step surgery. Cultures on intraoperative samples werepositive in all cases. No major intraoperative complications occurred. Two patients developed minor complications and one needed a second surgical debridement for infection resolution. At the last follow-up functional results were excellent in 5(27.8%) patients, satisfactory in 10(55.5%) and unsatisfactory in 3(16.7%) patients. No activities of daily living(ADLs) limitations were reported by 12(66.6%) patients, slight by 3(16.6%) and severe limitation by 3(16.6%) patients. Mean visual analog scale at the last follow-up was 1(0-3).CONCLUSION The two-step technique has proven to be effective to achieve resolution of the infectious process and union with good functional results and low rate of complications.
AIM To investigate the effectiveness of a two-stage surgical procedure for the treatment of septic forearm non-union.METHODS Septic non-unions are rare complications of forearm fractures. When they occur, they modify the relationship between forearm bones leading to a severe functional impairment. Treatment is challenging and surgery and antibiotic therapy are required to achieve infection resolution. It is even harder to obtain non-union healing with good functional results. The aim of this study is to present a two stages surgical treatment for septic forearm non-union with revision and temporary stabilization of the non-union until infection has cleared and subsequently perform a new synthesis with plate, opposite bone graft strut and intercalary graft. We retrospectively reviewed 18 patients with a mean age at the time of primary injury of 34.5 years(19-57 years) and a mean follow-up of 6 years(2-10 years). All patients presented an atrophic nonunion with a mean length of the bone defect of 1.8 cm(1.2-4 cm). Complications and clinical results after surgical treatment were recorded. RESULTS Mean time to resolution of the infectious process was 8.2 wk(range 4-20 wk) after the first surgery and specific antibiotic therapy. All the non-union healed with an average time of 5 mo(range 2-10 mo) after the second step surgery. Cultures on intraoperative samples werepositive in all cases. No major intraoperative complications occurred. Two patients developed minor complications and one needed a second surgical debridement for infection resolution. At the last follow-up functional results were excellent in 5(27.8%) patients, satisfactory in 10(55.5%) and unsatisfactory in 3(16.7%) patients. No activities of daily living(ADLs) limitations were reported by 12(66.6%) patients, slight by 3(16.6%) and severe limitation by 3(16.6%) patients. Mean visual analog scale at the last follow-up was 1(0-3).CONCLUSION The two-step technique has proven to be effective to achieve resolution of the infectious process and union with good functional results and low rate of complications.
