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No difference between daily and weekly pin site care: a randomized study of 50 patients with external fixation.

W-Dahl, Annette LU ; Toksvig-Larsen, Sören LU and Lindstrand, Anders LU (2003) In Acta Orthopaedica Scandinavica 74(6). p.704-708
Abstract
Introduction: We investigated whether there were any differences in the frequency and severity of pin site infections by performing pin site care daily or once a week. We studied patients operated on for gonarthrosis by the hemicallotasis technique, using hydroxyapatite-coated pins in the metaphyseal bone and standard pins in the diaphyseal bone. Patients and methods: 50 patients were prospectively randomized to daily (nÊ= 27) or weekly (nÊ= 23) pin site care. We evaluated pin sites, the occurrence of pain (VAS), the use of antibiotics and analgesics and complications every week. Bacterial cultures were taken from each pin site at 1, 6 and 10 weeks and from the pins on removal. Results: We found no differences between daily or weekly pin... (More)
Introduction: We investigated whether there were any differences in the frequency and severity of pin site infections by performing pin site care daily or once a week. We studied patients operated on for gonarthrosis by the hemicallotasis technique, using hydroxyapatite-coated pins in the metaphyseal bone and standard pins in the diaphyseal bone. Patients and methods: 50 patients were prospectively randomized to daily (nÊ= 27) or weekly (nÊ= 23) pin site care. We evaluated pin sites, the occurrence of pain (VAS), the use of antibiotics and analgesics and complications every week. Bacterial cultures were taken from each pin site at 1, 6 and 10 weeks and from the pins on removal. Results: We found no differences between daily or weekly pin site care as regards the frequency and severity of pin site infections, pain, or the use of antibiotics and analgesics. Grade I infections (Checketts-Otterburns classification) occurred around 11% of the pins and grade II infections around 4%. 70% of the bacterial cultures were negative. The most frequent bacteria were coagulase negative staphylococcus and corynebacterium. Antibiotics were given an average of 47 days. More problems occurred around the proximal pins. 5/200 (all proximal) pins were clinically loose on removal. Interpretation: Pin site care once a week seems appropriate. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Adult, Aged, Bandages, External Fixators: adverse effects, Human, Female, Male, Middle Aged, Osteotomy, Prospective Studies, Surgical Wound Infection: prevention & control
in
Acta Orthopaedica Scandinavica
volume
74
issue
6
pages
704 - 708
publisher
Taylor & Francis
external identifiers
  • pmid:14763702
  • wos:000187295200013
  • scopus:0348231695
ISSN
0001-6470
DOI
10.1080/00016470310018234
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
8d434734-f3c5-42d1-a3d6-c178e14b7a31 (old id 120727)
alternative location
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=PubMed&Cmd=ShowDetailView&TermToSearch=14763702&ordinalpos=5&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 15:30:01
date last changed
2022-03-14 18:33:04
@article{8d434734-f3c5-42d1-a3d6-c178e14b7a31,
  abstract     = {{Introduction: We investigated whether there were any differences in the frequency and severity of pin site infections by performing pin site care daily or once a week. We studied patients operated on for gonarthrosis by the hemicallotasis technique, using hydroxyapatite-coated pins in the metaphyseal bone and standard pins in the diaphyseal bone. Patients and methods: 50 patients were prospectively randomized to daily (nÊ= 27) or weekly (nÊ= 23) pin site care. We evaluated pin sites, the occurrence of pain (VAS), the use of antibiotics and analgesics and complications every week. Bacterial cultures were taken from each pin site at 1, 6 and 10 weeks and from the pins on removal. Results: We found no differences between daily or weekly pin site care as regards the frequency and severity of pin site infections, pain, or the use of antibiotics and analgesics. Grade I infections (Checketts-Otterburns classification) occurred around 11% of the pins and grade II infections around 4%. 70% of the bacterial cultures were negative. The most frequent bacteria were coagulase negative staphylococcus and corynebacterium. Antibiotics were given an average of 47 days. More problems occurred around the proximal pins. 5/200 (all proximal) pins were clinically loose on removal. Interpretation: Pin site care once a week seems appropriate.}},
  author       = {{W-Dahl, Annette and Toksvig-Larsen, Sören and Lindstrand, Anders}},
  issn         = {{0001-6470}},
  keywords     = {{Adult; Aged; Bandages; External Fixators: adverse effects; Human; Female; Male; Middle Aged; Osteotomy; Prospective Studies; Surgical Wound Infection: prevention & control}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{6}},
  pages        = {{704--708}},
  publisher    = {{Taylor & Francis}},
  series       = {{Acta Orthopaedica Scandinavica}},
  title        = {{No difference between daily and weekly pin site care: a randomized study of 50 patients with external fixation.}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/4406443/623962.pdf}},
  doi          = {{10.1080/00016470310018234}},
  volume       = {{74}},
  year         = {{2003}},
}