Wound infections associated with absorbable or metallic devices used in the fixation of fractures, arthrodeses and osteotomies.

Sinisaari, I; Pätiälä, H; Böstman, O; Mäkelä, E A; Hirvensalo, E; Partio, E K; Törmälä, P; Rokkanen, P · Eur J Orthop Surg Traumatol · 1995

retrospective_cohort · Level III

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Abstract

Totally absorbable internal fixation devices have been used in a total of 2114 operations for the treatment of fractures, arthrodeses and osteotomies at our department between November 1984 and December 1992. The infection rate was 3,5%, for pure polyglycolide (PGA) implants 4% and for pure polylactide (PLLA) implants 0,7%. When the fixation with absorbable implants was compared to that of metallic implants in another series the infection rates were 4% and 9%, respectively. This difference was due to technical reasons. Sinus formation due to a foreign body reaction was observed in 2,5% of 2114 cases and was subsequently infected in 20%.