[Irrigation using side-hole double valve lavage tube for orthopaedic postoperative infection in 126 cases]

To develope a modified surgical lavage tube to improve the efficacy of the treatment of orthopaedic postoperative infection.

A retrospective analysis was performed on 126 patients who received the pulsed lavage therapy with side-hole double valve lavage tube between March 2005 and March 2010. There were 98 males and 28 females, aged 19-63 years (mean, 35 years). The infected sites included femur in 61 cases, tibiofibula in 46 cases, humerus in 12 cases, and patella in 7 cases. The lavage tube obstruction and defluvium, secondary infection of drainage opening, and wound healing were observed during treatment.

No lavage tube defluvium occured during the lavage in all cases. Lavage tube obstruction occurred in 68 cases, edema at the peripheral tissue was caused by obstruction in 9 cases; secondary infection at the lavage and drainage opening in 10 cases, which were cured after corresponding treatment. All cases achieved wound healing by first intention within 2 weeks. Lavage tube and drainage opening were closed within 1 month. All patients were followed up 1-5 years (mean, 18 months) with no recurrence.

Pulsed lavage therapy with side-hole double valve lavage tube can obviously improve the efficacy of the treatment of orthopaedic postoperative infection, so it is an effective modification to convention lavage.