Presence of Complications in the Transition of a Bone Transport to a Definite Internal Fixation System without Pin Holiday: Case Report

Abstract

Category: Trauma; Other Introduction/Purpose: Bone transports are an alternative in the treatment of severe injuries of lower extremities. They are generally associated to axis problems, delayed bone union in the docking site and pin infection. There is no evidence in the need of having a window period between the transport system and the definite internal fixation. Objetive: Describe the complications seen in a group of 6 patients that went through a tibial bone transport with circular external fixator and posterior internal fixation without pin holiday. Methods: Restrospective and decriptive study of 6 patient that went through tibial bone transport between 2012-2019, in a level 1 trauma center. Inclusion criteria considered patients >18 years old, with intra or extramedular internal fixation systems. We registered different parameters including patients comorbilities, transport time, transport index, type of internal fixation used and complications during the time of observation and treatment. We registered our clinical evaluation and both laboratory and imagenologic exams. Results: 100% of patients were men, with an average of 35.8 years old (22-48 yo). 66% of injuries compromised distal tibia, 83% considered open fractures. Average transport length was 7.43 centimeters (3-11cms) in 3.5 months (1.3-6 months), with average follow up of 52 months (24-72months). Tibial transport index in our study was of 1,2month/cm. The main complication in our study was bone consolidation delay in the docking site (50%), and 33% presented deep infection, all of them in the open fracture group. Conclusion: Pin holiday has been justified by the reduction in pin site infection. In our series there where no pin site infection cases, and only two deep infections which were associated with an important soft tissue injury that required free flap coverage.