Incidence and severity of infections after closed reduction and external fixation of proximal humeral fractures.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to evaluate the incidence and severity of pin tract infections in a series of patients treated by Closed reduction external fixation (CREF) for proximal humeral fractures.

DESIGN

Retrospective review of medical charts and radiographs.

SETTING

Academic level-1 trauma center.

PATIENTS

Forty-six consecutive patients (20 males, 26 females, mean age 50 years (range 20-90 years) with proximal humeral fractures treated by CREF were enrolled into the study based on data retrieved from medical charts and radiographs.

INTERVENTION

None.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

Evaluation of the incidence and severity of post-CREF pin tract infections.

RESULTS

All 46 fractures healed after an average of 4 weeks. There were 18 (39.1%) cases of pin tract infections whose most common bacteria colonization was gram-positive. Pin tract infections were significantly higher among patients with multiple fragment fractures and multiple pins. Treatment consisting of oral or intravenous antibiotics was effective in all cases, and the infection was resolved within 2 weeks at most.

CONCLUSIONS

Most pin tract infections were managed with systemic antibiotics with good results. The occurrence of pin tract infection did not require a change of the stabilization method and none of the patients required revision of their CREF.