Orthopedic Prosthetic Infections: Plastic Surgery Management

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic surgery
• Plastic surgery
• Infectious diseases

Background:

• Orthopedic prosthetic infections pose serious risks.
• Soft tissue defects often accompany these infections.
• Plastic surgeons play a crucial role in managing these defects.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review established treatment methods for soft tissue coverage of orthopedic hardware infections.
• To identify viable reconstructive options for various anatomical locations.
• To describe available soft tissue reconstructive techniques and adjunctive treatments.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of existing studies.
• Identification of treatment guidelines and reconstructive options.
• Analysis of methods for managing exposed or infected orthopedic hardware.

Main Results:

• Various soft tissue reconstructive options were identified.
• Established treatment guidelines for hardware infection coverage were found.
• Adjunctive treatment methods were also described.

Conclusions:

• Effective soft tissue coverage is essential for managing orthopedic prosthetic infections.
• A range of reconstructive techniques can be employed.
• This review consolidates current knowledge on managing these complex cases.