Fracture Related Infection: Principles of Diagnosis

Description

The BAJIS webinar series continues with a session led by Ian Kennedy focusing on fracture-related infections. Ian introduces Bilal Jamal, the current President Elect of BAJIS, who presents an overview of the session and expresses gratitude for participation, highlighting the importance of engaging in such educational endeavors. Bilal introduces the first speaker, Deepa Bose, a consultant at Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital with extensive experience in fracture-related infections and global orthopedic education.



Deepa begins her presentation by discussing the challenges in diagnosing fracture-related infections, noting that the incidence can range from 6 to 15%. She emphasizes that complexity of the injury, patient comorbidities, and the type of surgical intervention can influence infection risks. Deepa introduces the concept of the 'orthopedic ostrich,' suggesting that clinicians often hope that superficial signs of infection are not linked to deeper issues, especially in cases involving metallic implants.



Throughout her talk, Deepa provides insights on clinical signs, laboratory tests, and imaging modalities essential for identifying infections, highlighting their limitations. She discusses microbiological approaches, underscoring the importance of clean and strategically taken tissue samples over surface swabs, which often yield unreliable results. The talk culminates in a discussion on the criteria for a definitive diagnosis of fracture-related infections, blending clinical presentation with laboratory and imaging findings. Deepa concludes by inviting questions and encouraging further reading on the latest consensus guidelines. Bilal wraps up the session, acknowledging the complexities of diagnosing such infections and the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration.

DOI: 10.1302/3114-240678

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