ArticleJournal of orthopaedic surgery and research2024
Risk of infection and conversion time from external to definitive fixation in open tibial fracture.
Article in Journal of orthopaedic surgery and research, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. An erratum has been issued. Cited by 4 papers.
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Who cites it
4 citing papers in PubMed.
- Staged conversion after circular ring external fixation in adult open long-bone fractures: A systematic review.Journal of clinical orthopaedics and trauma · 2026Review
- Time-dependent microbial colonisation of temporary external fixations: a prospective descriptive study.Journal of orthopaedic surgery and research · 2026Article
- Management and Treatment Strategies for Distal Tibia and Ankle Infections: Our Clinical Experience.Journal of clinical medicine · 2025Article
- Microbiologic analysis of 140 patients undergoing revision total knee arthroplasty due to periprosthetic joint infection and aseptic loosening: droplet digital PCR analysis.Journal of orthopaedic surgery and research · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
- Erratum issued
Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundAn open fracture of the tibia is one of the most common and dangerous type of open fractures. In the management of these injuries, the primary focus is on reducing the infection rate, as this is crucial for achieving the best clinical outcomes. This study aims to explore how provisional external fixation duration influences the rates of infection and union in open tibial shaft fractures.
methodsA retrospective study with a total of 55 patients who received temporary external fixation. Groups A (less than 12 days), B (12-24), C (25-36), and D (more than 36) were the four groups into which they were split according to the conversion time.
results12.8%, 18.2%, 50%, and 100% of the infections were found in Groups A, B, C, and D, respectively. Significant (P < 0.05) differences were found throughout the four groups. The conversion time from external to definitive fixation was found to have a relationship with the occurrence of an infection (P = 0.004). A higher prevalence of infection was observed over time. However, no association was observed between infection and antibiotic duration or initial debridement time (P = 0.689 and P = 0.963, respectively).
conclusionsResults of this study demonstrate that the likelihood of infection increases when the change from external fixation to definitive internal fixation is delayed. Therefore, it is important to convert to definitive internal fixation immediately when the local and general conditions are favorable for doing so.
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