Intramedullary antibiotic coated nail in tibial fracture: a systematic review

Implant-associated infections remain one of the main problems in trauma surgery, particularly for treatment of open tibial fractures. The role of systemic antibiotic prophylaxis is now established and accepted, but recent literature also seems to emphasize the importance of local antibiotic prophylaxis. Antibiotic coated nails play a crucial role, allowing at the same time the prevention of infections and favoring the stabilization of fractures. These devices appear to be a clinically effective and safe solution. The purpose of the study was to investigate the role of antibiotic coated nails in the treatment of tibia fractures. A literature review was performed on MEDLINE through PubMed to identify scientific publications relevant to the use of antibiotic coated nails in tibial fractures. Primary outcomes were infection rate and bone union rate. This review present numerous limits due primarily to the small number and different nature of studies published; the heterogeneity of the devices used.