Objectives The purpose of this study was to compare the infection risk when internal fixation plates either overlap or did not overlap previous external fixator pin sites in patients with bicondylar tibial plateau fractures and pilon fractures treated with a two-staged protocol of acute spanning external fixation and later definitive internal fixation. Design Retrospective comparison study. Setting Two level I trauma centers. Patients/Participants A total of 85 OTA type 41C bicondylar tibial plateau fractures and 97 OTA type 43C pilon fractures treated between 2005 to 2010. Radiographs were evaluated to determine the positions of definitive plates in relation to external fixator pin sites and patients were grouped into an “overlapping” group and a “non-overlapping” group. Intervention Fifty patients had overlapping pin sites and 132 did not. Main Outcome Measure Presence of a deep wound infection Results Overall, 25 patients developed a deep wound infection. Of the 50 patients in the “overlapping” group, 12 (24%) developed a deep infection, compared to 13 (10%) of the 132 patients in the “non-overlapping” group (p = 0.033). Conclusions Placement of definitive plate fixation overlapping previous external fixator pin sites significantly increases the risk of deep infection in the two-staged treatment of bicondylar tibial plateau and pilon fractures. Surgeons must make a conscious effort to place external fixator pins outside of future definitive fixation sites to reduce the overall incidence of deep wound infections. Additionally, consideration must be given to the relative benefit of a spanning external fixator in light of the potential for infection associated with their use.
Background/Aims/Objectives: The media are an important source of health information, especially for those with less access to regular health care. Black news outlets such as Black newspapers are a source of health information for African Americans. This study characterized media coverage of genetics-related information in Black weekly newspapers and general audience newspapers from the same communities. Methods: All health stories in a sample of 24 Black weekly newspapers and 12 general audience newspapers from January 2004 to December 2007 were reviewed for genetics-related stories. These stories were further coded for both journalistic and public health variables. Results: Of all health-related stories identified, only 2% (n = 357) were considered genetics related. Genetics-related stories in Black newspapers - compared to those in general audience newspapers - were larger, more locally and racially relevant, and more likely to contain recommendations or action steps to improve health or reduce disease risks and to mention the importance of knowing one's family history. Stories in general audience newspapers were more likely to discuss causes of disease, mention genetic testing or therapy, and suggest a high/moderate degree of genetic determinism. Conclusions: Black newspapers are a viable communication channel to disseminate findings and implications of human genome research to African American audiences.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.