Localized tetanus bacillus infection following open metatarsal fracture in an adult: A case report.

rationaleLocalized tetanus is a rare subtype characterized by muscle spasms in the vicinity of necrotic wounds and is often misdiagnosed due to overlapping symptoms. Tetanus has a high mortality rate and is tricky to diagnose and treat clinically. Our case report is about a 61-year-old male patient who was admitted to a local hospital with an open fracture of the right foot and underwent emergency debridement of the open fracture site, internal fixation, and closed negative pressure drainage of the wound, and developed a localized Mycobacterium tetani infection in the postoperative period. We discussed the diagnosis and treatment process of this adult open metatarsal fracture combined with localized tetanus bacillus infection, and put forward the deficiencies in the diagnosis and treatment process of the disease and treatment suggestions, aiming to provide a reference for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of this disease. PATIENT CONCERNS: The outcome of the treatment is the most important aspect of the patient's concern. The patient was treated, the tetanus bacillus infection was controlled, involuntary convulsions disappeared, and the patient's pain was reduced. Follow-up skin healing was good and the patient resumed normal activities, reducing the economic burden. DIAGNOSES: The patient had an open fracture caused by trauma, and after surgical treatment, he developed paroxysmal right knee flexion contracture without any obvious causative factors, and the right triceps brachii muscle of the lower leg was twitching, spasmodic, stiff, and painful. After admission, through clinical symptoms, combined with bacteriological culture, the final diagnosis was localized type tetanus bacillus infection after an open metatarsal fracture in adults.

interventionsAfter admission, the patient was treated with a combination of thorough debridement, internal fixation with Kirschner needle, closed negative pressure drainage of the wound, neural tissue anesthesia, intramuscular injection of tetanus antitoxin, ceftriaxone combined with metronidazole, and vancomycin bone cement. OUTCOMES: The patient's condition improved, and the skin healed well on follow-up. LESSONS: From this case, we conclude that the elderly are not actively immunized against tetanus and tetanus vaccination is recommended for those over 65 years of age. Open wound patients first seen at an outside hospital to ensure and perform passive immunization. In the management of open wounds, preoperative bacteriological culture of fresh wounds in the emergency department is essential to guide therapeutic use of medications to prevent the development of infection and target anti-infective therapy. Early and thorough debridement of open wounds is effective in removing residual tetanus bacilli and their spores from the wound and reducing the release of toxins. Ineffective nerve block anesthesia can be used as a reference indicator of tetanus bacillus infection to aid diagnosis and treatment. Closed negative pressure drainage of the wound promotes the propagation of anaerobic bacteria, and the use of closed negative pressure drainage of the wound is avoided when the bacteria suspected of infection are anaerobic bacteria. Vancomycin bone cement has many advantages, such as long duration of action and small side effects, which can effectively control the infection.