Septic complications after interlocking nailing of the tibia

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Infectious Disease

Background:

• Surgical site infections are a significant complication in operative fracture treatment, leading to nonunion and poor outcomes.
• Despite advancements in surgical techniques and antibiotics, infection rates after interlocking nailing (IN) for tibial fractures vary widely in literature (1-6.3%).

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the incidence and characteristics of osseous infections in tibial fractures treated with Grosse & Kempf Nails (G & K Nails).
• To analyze predisposing factors, infection types, and visible sites of infection in cases of post-operative tibial osteomyelitis.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective study of 334 patients with open and closed tibial fractures treated with G & K Nails.
• Classification of infectious cases based on infection type, site, and predisposing factors.

Main Results:

• A low rate of 1.5% (5 cases) of manifest osseous infection was observed in the study cohort.
• Detailed classification of these 5 infection cases was performed.

Conclusions:

• The Grosse & Kempf Nail (G & K Nail) fixation for tibial fractures demonstrated a low incidence of deep osseous infection.
• Further discussion on the etiology of infection, therapeutic guidelines, and management of septic complications is warranted.