[Alternation of plasma fibronectin concentration after fracture and relationship with infection]

Plasma fibronectin concentrations were measured in 78 patients with traumatic fracture and 80 healthy people as a control. The results showed that plasma fibronectin concentrations of the patients without complicated infection were significantly decreased 5 to 48 hours after fracture. As comparison with the control, the mean decrease was 56 (16.9%; P less than 0.01), 121 (36.5%; P less than 0.001) and 71 mg/L (21.4%; P less than 0.001) at 5.24 and 48 hours respectively, and restored to the levels of the control at 4 days. In the patients complicated infection, plasma fibronectin concentration was not recovered at 14 days after fracture. The mean decrease was 96 (28.9%; P less than 0.001); 148 (44.6%; P less than 0.001), 119 (35.8%; P less than 0.001), 83 (25.0%; P less than 0.001), 59 (17.8%; P less than 0.01) and 43 mg/L (13.0%; P less than 0.01) at 5.24, 48 hours, 4.7 and 14 days, respectively, as comparison with the control. The results suggest that plasma fibronectin concentrations in the patients with fracture without complicated infection are temporarily decreased and rapidly recovered, but, in the patients with complicated infection, the low fibronectin levels are continued and render the patients more susceptible for bacteria and thus result in complicated infection. Plasma fibronectin can be used as a valuable index to prevent and treat complicated infection after traumatic fracture.