Abstract

Background: External fixation is a surgical treatment wherein rods are screwed into bone and exit the body to be attached to a stabilizing structure on the outside of the body. Pin site infections are a common complication of external fixation that places a significant burden on the patient and healthcare system. Despite numerous studies that work to derive evidence-based recommendations for prevention of pin site infections, substantial controversy exists in regard to the optimal protocol.

Objectives: (1) to establish a proper procedure for taking care of the external fixation for patients; (2) to evaluate the results in patients who were treated by the external fixation and taken care with our clinical protocol.

Methods: Our prospective study was conducted at the Trauma of Department of Surgery, Hue Central Hospital. From 6/2019 to 2/2020. There were 43 patients (32 males, 11 females) with lower extremity fractures who were treated by exteral fixation.

Results: The results after 6 months were calm in 22 patients, irritated in 21 patients and no infected patients in term of Pin site infection clinical assessment tools.

Conclusions: Following the exact steps, the infection rate of the external fixation decreases significantly, and the extension of the period of maintaining the external fixation helps patients have more time to reconstruct the bone structure