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Timing of definitive fixation of severe tibial plateau fractures with compartment syndrome does not have an effect on the rate of infection.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Zura, RD; Adams, SB; Jeray, KJ; Obremskey, WT; Stinnett, SS; Olson, SA; Southeastern Fracture Consortium Foundation,
Published in: J Trauma
December 2010

BACKGROUND: Tibial plateau fractures with associated compartment syndrome are severe injuries with elevated infection rates. The objective of this article was to analyze whether there is an association between infection and the timing of definitive fracture fixation in relation to fasciotomy closure or coverage. METHODS: Eighty-one tibial plateau fractures, complicated by compartment syndrome, were treated with four-compartment fasciotomies and definitive fracture fixation before, at, or after fasciotomy closure or coverage. RESULTS: Thirty extremities were treated with definitive fixation before fasciotomy closure. Seven (23%) of these extremities developed an infection. Twenty-six extremities were treated with definitive internal fixation at the time of fasciotomy closure of which three (12%) developed an infection. Twenty-five extremities were treated definitively after fasciotomy closure of which four (16%) developed an infection. There was no significant difference in the rate of infection among the groups (p = 0.5012). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated no statistical difference in the rate of infection when tibial plateau fractures with four-compartment fasciotomies were treated with open reduction and internal fixation before fasciotomy closure, at fasciotomy closure, or after fasciotomy closure. Based on the data presented herein, it seems that definitive fracture treatment can be determined by the condition of patient and by surgeon preference and experience without exposing the patient to the additional risk of infection.

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Published In

J Trauma

DOI

EISSN

1529-8809

Publication Date

December 2010

Volume

69

Issue

6

Start / End Page

1523 / 1526

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Treatment Outcome
  • Tibial Fractures
  • Surgical Wound Infection
  • Statistics, Nonparametric
  • Risk Factors
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Fracture Fixation, Internal
  • Female
 

Citation

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Zura, R. D., Adams, S. B., Jeray, K. J., Obremskey, W. T., Stinnett, S. S., Olson, S. A., & Southeastern Fracture Consortium Foundation, . (2010). Timing of definitive fixation of severe tibial plateau fractures with compartment syndrome does not have an effect on the rate of infection. J Trauma, 69(6), 1523–1526. https://doi.org/10.1097/TA.0b013e3181d40403
Zura, Robert D., Samuel B. Adams, Kyle J. Jeray, William T. Obremskey, Sandra S. Stinnett, Steven A. Olson, and Steven A. Southeastern Fracture Consortium Foundation. “Timing of definitive fixation of severe tibial plateau fractures with compartment syndrome does not have an effect on the rate of infection.J Trauma 69, no. 6 (December 2010): 1523–26. https://doi.org/10.1097/TA.0b013e3181d40403.
Zura RD, Adams SB, Jeray KJ, Obremskey WT, Stinnett SS, Olson SA, et al. Timing of definitive fixation of severe tibial plateau fractures with compartment syndrome does not have an effect on the rate of infection. J Trauma. 2010 Dec;69(6):1523–6.
Zura, Robert D., et al. “Timing of definitive fixation of severe tibial plateau fractures with compartment syndrome does not have an effect on the rate of infection.J Trauma, vol. 69, no. 6, Dec. 2010, pp. 1523–26. Pubmed, doi:10.1097/TA.0b013e3181d40403.
Zura RD, Adams SB, Jeray KJ, Obremskey WT, Stinnett SS, Olson SA, Southeastern Fracture Consortium Foundation. Timing of definitive fixation of severe tibial plateau fractures with compartment syndrome does not have an effect on the rate of infection. J Trauma. 2010 Dec;69(6):1523–1526.

Published In

J Trauma

DOI

EISSN

1529-8809

Publication Date

December 2010

Volume

69

Issue

6

Start / End Page

1523 / 1526

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Treatment Outcome
  • Tibial Fractures
  • Surgical Wound Infection
  • Statistics, Nonparametric
  • Risk Factors
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Fracture Fixation, Internal
  • Female