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Updated: Jan 20, 2026

Surgical Fixation of Sternal Fractures: Preoperative Planning and a Safe Surgical Technique Using Locked Titanium Plates and Depth Limited Drilling
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Surgical Fixation of Sternal Fractures: Preoperative Planning and a Safe Surgical Technique Using Locked Titanium Plates and Depth Limited Drilling

Published on: January 5, 2015

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Infection after fracture fixation

Sylvain Steinmetz1, Diane Wernly1, Kevin Moerenhout1

  • 1Service of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland.

EFORT Open Reviews
|August 20, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Infection after fracture fixation requires prompt diagnosis and combined surgical and antibiotic treatment. This review outlines specific strategies for managing these challenging orthopaedic infections.

Area of Science:

  • Orthopaedic Surgery
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Bone Healing

Background:

  • Post-operative infection following fracture fixation presents a significant challenge in orthopaedic surgery.
  • Such infections can impede bone healing and result in functional deficits.
  • Early detection and interdisciplinary management are crucial for successful outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To define infection after fracture fixation.
  • To outline clinical, radiological, and laboratory signs of these infections.
  • To present a treatment algorithm for optimal patient care.

Main Methods:

  • Review of current literature and clinical guidelines.
  • Analysis of diagnostic criteria for infection after fracture fixation.
  • Development of a structured treatment approach.

Main Results:

  • Infection after fracture fixation necessitates a distinct management strategy compared to prosthetic joint infections.
  • Intraoperative tissue sampling is vital for guiding antibiotic therapy.
  • Combined surgical intervention and appropriate antibiotic treatment are essential for infection eradication.

Conclusions:

  • A specific, interdisciplinary approach is required for managing infection after fracture fixation.
  • Timely diagnosis and targeted treatment are key to improving bone healing and function.
  • This review provides a framework for the comprehensive care of patients with these infections.
Keywords:
antibiotic therapybiofilmfracture fixation devicefracture-related infectioninternal fixation infectionorthopaedic implant infection

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