Fracture-related infections in HIV infected patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Complications and surgical treatment after pathological fracture associated to HIV secondary disease. A case report

Due to advances in retroviral treatment, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-related disease may become chronic and the patient survival has substantially increased. Osteoarticular disease in those patients include multifocal osteonecrosis and its complications. Pain and functional limitation may be due to these complications, frequently underdiagnosed, including pathological fractures. Its prompt management may require a different approach than osteosynthesis. We present a long-term chronic HIV patient with severe pain and limitation. A tibial plateau pathological fracture associated to multifocal osteonecrosis was identified and treated with osteonecrosis debridement and total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Acute periprosthetic joint infection developed and required debridement, antibiotic and implant retention. The contralateral knee, also with multiple osteonecrosis foci, was managed with early TKA. We highlight the importance of timely surgical reconstruction to avoid serious limitation and complications.

Management of fracture-related infection in low resource settings: how applicable are the current consensus guidelines?

The global burden of fracture-related infection (FRI) is likely to be found in countries with limited healthcare resources and strategies are needed to ensure the best available practice is context appropriate. This study has two main aims: (i) to assess the applicability of recently published expert guidance from the FRI consensus groups on the diagnosis and management of FRI to low- and middle-income countries (LMICs); (ii) to summarise the available evidence on FRI, with consideration for strategies applicable to low resource settings.

Data related to the International Consensus Meeting Orthopaedic Trauma Work Group and the International Fracture Related Infection Consensus Group FRI guidelines were collected including panel membership, country of origin, language of publication, open access status and impact factor of the journal of publication. The recommendations and guidelines were then summarised with specific consideration for relevance and applicability to LMICs. Barriers to implementation were explored within a group of LMIC residents and experienced workers.

The authorship, evidence base and reach of the FRI consensus guidelines lack representation from low resource settings. The majority of authors (78.5–100%) are based in high-income countries and there are no low-income country collaborators listed in any of the papers. All papers are in English.

The FRI consensus guidelines give a clear set of principles for the optimum management of FRI. Many of these – including the approach to diagnosis, multidisciplinary team working and some elements of surgical management – are achievable in low resource settings. Current evidence suggests that it is important that a core set of principles is prioritised but robust evidence for this is lacking. There are major organisational and infrastructure obstacles in LMICs that will make any standardisation of FRI diagnosis or management challenging. The detail of how FRI consensus principles should be applied in low resource settings requires further work.

The important work presented in the current FRI consensus guidelines is relevant to low resource settings. However, leadership, collaboration, creativity and innovation will be needed to implement these strategies for communities who need it the most.

What Are the Risk Factors for Surgical Site Infection in HIV-Positive Patients Receiving Open Reduction and Internal Fixation of Traumatic Limb Fractures? A Retrospective Cohort Study

A lack of studies analyze risk factors associated with surgical site infection (SSI) in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients with trauma undergoing orthopedic surgery. We questioned, (1) "What is the proportion of SSI in HIV-positive patients receiving open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) of traumatic limb fractures?" and (2) "What are the independent risk factors for SSI of HIV-positive patients with traumatic limb fractures who received ORIF?" A retrospective study was performed in our institution from May 2011 to December 2019. A total of 246 patients were enrolled. Data of HIV-positive adult patients with traumatic limb fractures treated by ORIF were extracted from the electronic medical records, including the demographic information, characteristics of fractures, treatment-related variables, and indexes of laboratory examination. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify independent predictors of SSI. A total of 26 patients developed SSI in this study, the overall proportion was 10.6% [95% confidence interval (CI) = 7.2%-15.3%]. Among them, 18 cases (7.3%) suffered from superficial SSI and 8 cases (3.3%) had the deep SSI. Independent predictors of SSI identified by multivariable logistic regression analysis were CD4⁺ T-lymphocyte count (adjusted odds ratio per 100/μL increase = 0.55; 95% CI = 0.37-0.81; p = .002) and albumin (adjusted odds ratio per 5 g/liter increase = 0.50; 95% CI = 0.30-0.81; p = .003). We recommend that orthopedic surgeons assess immunosuppression and nutritional status of HIV-positive patients rigorously and optimize the perioperative strategy of supplementary to reduce the risk of SSI.