The authors conducted a retrospective review at their level I trauma center to assess the outcomes of closed vs open pediatric tibial fractures treated with titanium elastic nails. The study group included 38 pediatric patients (median age, 12 years) treated with titanium elastic nails for tibial fractures during a 5-year period. Patient demographics, closed or open injury, Gustilo-Anderson type for open fractures, fracture location, skeletal maturity, time to union, hospital length of stay, number of procedures performed per patient, and complications were recorded. The main outcome measures were time to union and complications. Average follow-up duration was 13 months. Mean time to union was 4 months for closed and 9 months for open fractures (P<.001). Average time to union for type IIIA and IIIB fractures was significantly increased (11 and 12 months, respectively; P=.02). Delayed union (>6 months postoperatively) occurred in 1 (6%) of 17 closed fractures compared with 11 (52%) of 21 open fractures. The average number of surgical procedures for closed fractures was fewer than for open fractures (2 vs 3 procedures, respectively; P=.03). Mean hospital length of stay was shorter for closed than open fractures (3 vs 6 days, respectively; P=.03). Two infections occurred in the open fracture group. Closed and open pediatric tibial shaft fractures can be successfully treated with titanium elastic nails. Open fractures treated with titanium elastic nails have a significantly longer time to union, require additional operative procedures, and result in longer hospital stays.
BackgroundPrevious reports of infection with Clostridium septicum have identified an unexpected association with concurrent malignancy. The reported rate of associated malignancy has been found to be as high as 81 percent. The purpose of this case report was to present a case of a total knee arthroplasty infected with C. septicum and the subsequent finding of an occult colonic malignancy.Case presentationA 74 year-old man underwent uneventful bilateral total knee arthroplasties. Two weeks post-operatively, he presented with acute swelling, redness and pain of the left knee. Aspiration of the knee was sent for cell count and culture. The cell count demonstrated 39,000 white blood cells per cubic millimeter with 71% of white blood cells identified as neutrophils. Synovial fluid cultures identified the presence of C. septicum, Enterobacter and coagulase negative Staphylococcus. After urgent irrigation and debridement and polyethylene exchange of the affected knee, the patient was placed on intravenous Penicillin G for a period of six weeks. Two weeks into his course of antibiotics, the patient developed hematochezia and was found to have an obstructive colonic malignancy. The patient underwent hemi-colectomy and has since made a complete recovery of both his malignancy and total knee arthroplasty infection.ConclusionRecognition of the association between C. septicum and malignancy is especially important considering the large predicted increase in total joint arthroplasty procedures over the coming decades. In addition to the standard treatment for infection after total joint arthroplasty, identification of Clostridium septicum should initiate a search for associated occult malignancy.
Background Although testing and treatment for Staphylococcus aureus colonization before total joint arthroplasty (TJA) are well described and understood, the durability of decolonization has not been studied extensively. Questions/purposes The purpose of this pilot study is to determine the percentage of arthroplasty patients with S. aureus colonization despite previous decolonization at the time of TJA. Methods Over a 2-year period, all patients having TJA by one surgeon were screened and treated for nasal S. aureus. Of 634 patients, 139 had methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (15%) or methicillin-resistant S. aureus (6.6%) colonization before TJA. Fifty-eight of these 139 patients (42%) were retested at 3 to 30 months for persistent colonization by nasal culture. Data collection included age at time of TJA, type of TJA, and time from TJA to repeat testing. We performed no clonal analysis for strains. Results Thirty-nine of the 58 patients (67%) decolonized before surgery were negative on retesting and 19 (33%) were again positive for S. aureus colonization. Of the 19 patients who retested positive for colonization, 17 (89%) were colonized by bacteria with unchanged antibiotic sensitivity. Conclusions We demonstrate that 33%
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