Principles of Fracture Related Infections: Surgery

Description

This presentation, led by Dr. Bilal Jamal, focuses on the principles of surgical management of fracture-related infections, highlighting the significance of debridement and dead space management. Dr. Jamal discusses the vital process of excising infected bone and soft tissue to achieve normal morphology and facilitate healing, underscoring the need for experienced surgical intervention rather than leaving the task to less experienced team members.



He emphasizes the importance of using appropriate techniques and instruments, such as curettes and low-pressure saline washing, to effectively clean infected areas, while also addressing the need for mechanical stability post-debridement. The presentation introduces Stimulan, a biodegradable calcium sulfate hemi-hydrate, utilized for local antibiotic delivery, which alleviates concerns about wound discharge common with other treatments.



A clinical case is reviewed, illustrating the management of a 52-year-old patient suffering from fracture-related infection. Following surgical intervention and the use of Stimulan embedded with antibiotics, the patient showed promising outcomes, including successful fusion of the ankle joint. Key takeaways stress the critical nature of dead space management and the role of local antibiotic elution in preventing infection resurgence, reinforcing the necessity for surgical precision and multidisciplinary collaboration in complex cases.

Specialties