|
|
|
|
External fixation in HIV positive patients: a safe
alternative Abstract: In this prospective case-controlled study, external fixator pin track infection was compared between HIV positive patients and their HIV negative controls. A standard regime of pin track care was applied to all patients. Pin tracks were scored using the Checketts scoring system (O: normal healthy appearance, 1: discharge, 2: as 1 and antibiotics given, 3: as 2 and pin resited, 4: pin loose and fixator abandoned, 5: osteomyelitis in pin tract, 6: osteomyelitis requiring surgical treatment). 66 pins in 15 HIV positive patients were observed for 538 pin-weeks and compared with 170 pins in 37 HIV negative patients observed for 1248 pin weeks. The worse score obtained at anytime for each pin was used for comparison. The overall infection rate (score 1-6) in the HIV positive patients was 45/66 (68%) and was seen to be no different to that of the 98/171 (57%) controls (p=0.137). However, when comparing the more serious infections of score 2 or above, 24/66 (36%) of the HIV positive patients compared to 20/171 (11%) controls were affected (p< 000.1). However, even though more problems were seen only 1/66 (3%) pin had a severe infection (score >3). This is the first study to compare the pin track infection rate in HIV positive and negative patients. The data suggest that whist HIV patients do get more pin tract problems that their HIV negative controls, but because the majority of the problems are minor, external fixation in HIV positive patients may be considered as a safe alternative to other forms of fixation. |
Send mail to
anne.sorvari@sw.ca with
questions or comments about this web site.
|
