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Open tibial shaft fractures: treatment patterns in sub-Saharan Africa. OTA Int 2023; 6:e228. [PMID: 36919118 PMCID: PMC10005832 DOI: 10.1097/oi9.0000000000000228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Objective Open tibial shaft fractures are a leading cause of disability worldwide, particularly in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). Guidelines for these injuries have been developed in many high-income countries, but treatment patterns across Africa are less well-documented. Methods A survey was distributed to orthopaedic service providers across sub-Saharan Africa. Information gathered included surgeon and practice setting demographics and treatment preferences for open tibial shaft fractures across 3 domains: initial debridement, antibiotic administration, and fracture stabilization. Responses were grouped according to country income level and were compared between LMICs and upper middle-income countries (UMICs). Results Responses from 261 survey participants from 31 countries were analyzed, with 80% of respondents practicing in LMICs. Most respondents were male practicing orthopaedic surgeons at a tertiary referral hospital. For all respondents, initial debridement occurred most frequently in the operating room (OR) within the first 24 hours, but LMIC surgeons more frequently reported delays due to equipment availability, treatment cost, and OR availability. Compared with their UMIC counterparts, LMIC surgeons less frequently confirmed tetanus vaccination status and more frequently used extended courses of postoperative antibiotics. LMIC surgeons reported lower rates of using internal fixation, particularly for high-grade and late-presenting fractures. Conclusions This study describes management characteristics of open tibial shaft fractures in sub-Saharan Africa. Notably, there were reported differences in wound management, antibiotic administration, and fracture stabilization between LMICs and UMICs. These findings suggest opportunities for standardization where evidence is available and further research where it is lacking. Level of Evidence VI-Cross-Sectional Study.
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Onsea J, Post V, Buchholz T, Schwegler H, Zeiter S, Wagemans J, Pirnay JP, Merabishvili M, D’Este M, Rotman SG, Trampuz A, Verhofstad MHJ, Obremskey WT, Lavigne R, Richards RG, Moriarty TF, Metsemakers WJ. Bacteriophage Therapy for the Prevention and Treatment of Fracture-Related Infection Caused by Staphylococcus aureus: a Preclinical Study. Microbiol Spectr 2021; 9:e0173621. [PMID: 34908439 PMCID: PMC8672900 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01736-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Although several studies have shown promising clinical outcomes of phage therapy in patients with orthopedic device-related infections, questions remain regarding the optimal application protocol, systemic effects, and the impact of the immune response. This study provides a proof-of-concept of phage therapy in a clinically relevant rabbit model of fracture-related infection (FRI) caused by Staphylococcus aureus. In a prevention setting, phage in saline (without any biomaterial-based carrier) was highly effective in the prevention of FRI, compared to systemic antibiotic prophylaxis alone. In the subsequent study involving treatment of established infection, daily administration of phage in saline through a subcutaneous access tube was compared to a single intraoperative application of a phage-loaded hydrogel and a control group receiving antibiotics only. In this setting, although a possible trend of bacterial load reduction on the implant was observed with the phage-loaded hydrogel, no superior effect of phage therapy was found compared to antibiotic treatment alone. The application of phage in saline through a subcutaneous access tube was, however, complicated by superinfection and the development of neutralizing antibodies. The latter was not found in the animals that received the phage-loaded hydrogel, which may indicate that encapsulation of phages into a carrier such as a hydrogel limits their exposure to the adaptive immune system. These studies show phage therapy can be useful in targeting orthopedic device-related infection, however, further research and improvements of these application methods are required for this complex clinical setting. IMPORTANCE Because of the growing spread of antimicrobial resistance, the use of alternative prevention and treatment strategies is gaining interest. Although the therapeutic potential of bacteriophages has been demonstrated in a number of case reports and series over the past decade, many unanswered questions remain regarding the optimal application protocol. Furthermore, a major concern during phage therapy is the induction of phage neutralizing antibodies. This study aimed at providing a proof-of-concept of phage therapy in a clinically relevant rabbit model of fracture-related infection caused by Staphylococcus aureus. Phage therapy was applied as prophylaxis in a first phase, and as treatment of an established infection in a second phase. The development of phage neutralizing antibodies was evaluated in the treatment study. This study demonstrates that phage therapy can be useful in targeting orthopedic device-related infection, especially as prophylaxis; however, further research and improvements of these application methods are required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jolien Onsea
- Department of Trauma Surgery, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Jean-Paul Pirnay
- Laboratory for Molecular and Cellular Technology, Queen Astrid Military Hospital, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Maya Merabishvili
- Laboratory for Molecular and Cellular Technology, Queen Astrid Military Hospital, Brussels, Belgium
| | | | | | - Andrej Trampuz
- Center for Musculoskeletal Surgery, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Michael H. J. Verhofstad
- Trauma Research Unit Department of Surgery, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - William T. Obremskey
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Rob Lavigne
- Laboratory of Gene Technology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | | | - Willem-Jan Metsemakers
- Department of Trauma Surgery, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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Local Application of a Gentamicin-Loaded Hydrogel Early After Injury Is Superior to Perioperative Systemic Prophylaxis in a Rabbit Open Fracture Model. J Orthop Trauma 2020; 34:231-237. [PMID: 32304564 DOI: 10.1097/bot.0000000000001707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Open fractures are at significant risk of developing a fracture-related infection, despite the routine administration of perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis. Early application of antibiotic prophylaxis is known to reduce infection rates; however, most international guidelines focus on postoperative duration rather than prehospital administration. We compared conventional perioperative prophylaxis against early prehospital prophylaxis either as a systemic single shot of cefuroxime or a locally applied gentamicin-loaded hydrogel in a laboratory animal model. METHODS Thirty New Zealand white rabbits underwent a first surgical procedure to create an open wound, bone damage and contamination with Staphylococcus aureus. After a 4-hour observation period mimicking the time-to-treatment, the animals underwent a second procedure to irrigate the wound and apply a fracture fixation device. The 5 groups (n = 6 per group) received (1) no treatment; (2) conventional 24-hour cefuroxime; (3) an early single shot of cefuroxime 15 minutes after trauma; (4) a combined early and standard systemic prophylaxis; and (5) early application of a gentamicin-loaded hydrogel that was removed during irrigation. RESULTS Untreated animals displayed high numbers of bacteria in irrigation fluid and were all highly culture positive at euthanasia. Three of 6 animals were culture positive at euthanasia after conventional prophylaxis. Early systemic prophylaxis reduced bacterial burden in irrigation fluid by up to 100-fold, but 5/6 animals were culture positive at euthanasia. The combined prophylaxis displayed greater efficacy with only 1/6 rabbits culture positive at euthanasia. Local application of the gentamicin-loaded hydrogel reduced bacteria recovered by irrigation to just above our detection limit, and at euthanasia, all animals were culture negative at euthanasia. CONCLUSIONS Early systemic antibiotic administration can significantly reduce bacterial burden in the operative field and reduce culture positivity at euthanasia when continued for 24 hours after injury. The early application of a gentamicin-loaded hydrogel that was removed during irrigation displayed superior efficacy to early systemic therapy alone and postoperative conventional gold standard 24-hour systemic therapy alone. These experimental results highlight the importance of early antibiotic administration in fracture care.
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Puetzler J, Zalavras C, Moriarty TF, Verhofstad MHJ, Kates SL, Raschke MJ, Rosslenbroich S, Metsemakers WJ. Clinical practice in prevention of fracture-related infection: An international survey among 1197 orthopaedic trauma surgeons. Injury 2019; 50:1208-1215. [PMID: 31029369 DOI: 10.1016/j.injury.2019.04.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2018] [Accepted: 04/18/2019] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Open fractures are still a challenge in orthopaedic trauma surgery, and compared to closed fractures, the rate of complications including fracture-related infection (FRI) remains significantly higher. Although different guidelines on prevention of FRI have been published in past decades, the current recommendations vary significantly. The objectives of this international questionnaire were to evaluate clinical practice procedures for the prevention of FRI in open fractures and to evaluate adherence to available guidelines. METHODS A 17-item questionnaire regarding prophylaxis against infection in fracture care was administered by SurveyMonkey® and was sent via blast e-mail to all users of AOTrauma (Davos, Switzerland). RESULTS Overall, 1197 orthopaedic trauma surgeons answered the survey. Although cephalosporins were the most commonly prescribed agents for perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis (PAP) in open fractures, a total of 13 different antibiotics were mentioned in the survey. Furthermore, the duration of PAP was extremely variable with a tendency towards longer treatment periods with increasing open fracture severity. The majority of surgeons (71%) agreed that the optimal duration of PAP was not well defined in the literature. The use of local anti-infective agents varied significantly, although all options received additional votes with increasing injury severity. Some of the other surgical aspects addressed in this review were associated with debridement and irrigation. A delay of six hours from injury to the first debridement was acceptable to 47% of surgeons, but delays were tolerable. Normal saline was the solution used most often for wound irrigation in open fractures (89%), with low-pressure irrigation being applied most commonly (55%). CONCLUSIONS This international survey provided an overview of clinical practice in FRI prevention, particularly in open fracture cases. The treatment of these serious injuries remains heterogeneous. A major issue is the lack of consensus concerning type and duration of PAP. Furthermore, there seems to be no agreement on the indication for the use of local anti-infective agents. Overall, it is unknown what the repercussions are of this lack of internationally accepted guidelines on daily clinical practice, but it is clear that standardised treatment protocols are preferable in the current medical landscape.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Puetzler
- Department of Trauma Surgery, University Hospital of Münster, Germany
| | - Charalampos Zalavras
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA
| | | | - Michael H J Verhofstad
- Department of Trauma Surgery, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Stephen L Kates
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Virginia Commonwealth University, USA
| | - Michael-J Raschke
- Department of Trauma Surgery, University Hospital of Münster, Germany
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