Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 14, 2026
Development and Implementation of a Multi-Disciplinary Technology Enhanced Care Pathway for Youth and Adults with Concussion
Published on: January 20, 2019
Evidence-based practice for pin site care in injured children
1University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
Insights
Pin site care for external fixation in pediatric fractures lacks evidence-based guidelines. Research is needed to develop best practices for preventing pin tract infections in children with external fixation devices.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedic surgery
- Pediatric trauma care
- Infection control
Background:
- External fixation is a standard treatment for pediatric pelvic and long-bone fractures.
- Pin site care is a critical nursing intervention to prevent pin tract infections.
- Current literature lacks evidence-based guidelines for effective pin site care in pediatric patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the absence of evidence-based practice guidelines for pin site care in pediatric external fixation.
- To emphasize the need for experimental research to establish best practices for preventing pin tract infections.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive review of nursing and medical literature was conducted.
- The review focused on common clinical guidelines, prevalence of pin tract infections, and existing protocols for pin site care.
Main Results:
- Common pin site care practices include observation, cleaning, crust removal, and dressing application.
- No evidence-based practices were identified for preventing pin tract infections in pediatric or adult patients with external fixation.
- Discrepancies exist between nursing and surgical literature regarding pin site care protocols and outcomes.
Conclusions:
- There is a significant gap in evidence-based practice for pediatric pin site care following external fixation.
- Further experimental research is essential to develop and validate guidelines for preventing pin tract infections in this patient population.
Abstract:
External fixation is an accepted treatment modality for pelvic and long-bone fractures in children following a traumatic injury. One aspect of nursing care in children receiving external fixation is pin site care to prevent pin tract infection. A review of the nursing and medical literature reveals common clinical guidelines for pin site care, such as observing for infection, cleaning the sites, removing crusts, and applying dressings. There is no evidence-based practice for the care of pin sites in children or adults receiving external fixation devices for pelvic or long bone fractures to prevent infection. While the nursing literature describes pin site care techniques, the surgical literature describes the prevalence of pin tract infection. Neither set of literature consistently addresses the protocols for and outcomes in pin site care. Experimental research is needed to create evidence-based practice guidelines for pin site care to prevent pin tract infection.
