Orthopedics Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Orthopedics, including details on chronic injuries, muscoskeletal disorders, surgery, reconstruction.

Surgical aspects of infection involving osteosynthesis implants: implant design and resistance to local infection.

Schlegel U, Perren SM

AO Research Institute, AO Foundation, Davos, Switzerland. urs.schlegel@aofoundation.org

Infection is still a major complication associated with surgery in orthopedics and traumatology. The implant design, the implant material, and the implantation technique may play essential roles in preventing infection. The goal of this paper is to discuss a series of experiments evaluating different aspects of both surgical procedures and implants. For this purpose, standardized local application of the human pathogen Staphylococcus aureus was performed in an animal model. Although these experimental results may be clinically relevant, direct extrapolation to clinical infection rates should be avoided.

Published 2 May 2006 in Injury, 37: S67-73.
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