Dados do Trabalho

Título

Hydroxyapatite-coated Compared With Stainless Steel External Fixation Pins Did Not Reduce the Rate of Pin Track Infection: A Multicentre Prospective Study

Introdução

Infection at the pin site remains the most common complication of external fixators (EFs). It is known that hydroxyapatite (HA)-coated pins increase bone adhesion and may lead to reduced rates of reported infections. The present study compares the rates of pin track infection associated with stainless steel and HA-coated pins.

Material e Método

This is a prospective, multicentre, nonrandomized, comparative intervention study among patients undergoing surgical treatment with EFs of any type between April 2018 and October 2021. Patients were followed up for at least 1 year until the removal of the EF or the end of the study period or treatment with EF. The definition of pin track infection was based upon the Maz-Oxford-Nuffield pin infection grading system.

Resultados

Overall, 132 patients undergoing external fixation surgery were included. Of these, 94 (71.2%) were male, with a mean age of 36.9 years (SD ± 18.9). Infection of any type (score > 1) was observed in 63 (47.7%) patients. Coated and uncoated-pin track-infection occurred in 45.7% and 48.5% of patients, respectively (P= 0.0887). The probability of developing infection (defined as a score ≥ 2) adjusted for follow-up time was not statistically higher among those who received uncoated pins compared to those who received pins coated with HA (odds ratio (OR) = 1.56, 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 0.67-3.67, p <0.05).

Conclusão

We conclude that HA coating does not affect the infection rates found in external fixator pins compared to standard steel pins.

Palavras Chave

External fixator; infection of the pin site; stainless steel pin; coated pin; hydroxyapatite.