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. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE:Prognostic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.