OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the infection rate of our protocol of prepping the external fixator in situ during definitive second-stage pilon fracture open reduction internal fixation. DESIGN: Retrospective clinical investigation. SETTING: Academic Level 1 Trauma Center. PATIENTS/PARTICIPANTS: Out of 229 patients with distal tibia fractures presenting to our institution from 1999 to 2014, 100 were treated in a 2-stage fashion utilizing this protocol. INTERVENTION: Prepping the external fixator into the surgical field during the second-stage/definitive open reduction internal fixation procedure. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENT: The rates of deep and superficial infections after definitive fixation. RESULTS: The deep infection rate was 13%, and the superficial infection rate was 11%. CONCLUSIONS: Infection rates using this protocol are comparable to previously reported infection rates for two-stage surgical treatment of pilon fractures. This protocol provides the treating surgeon information about an alternative method to streamline definitive fixation. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the infection rate of our protocol of prepping the external fixator in situ during definitive second-stage pilon fracture open reduction internal fixation. DESIGN: Retrospective clinical investigation. SETTING: Academic Level 1 Trauma Center. PATIENTS/PARTICIPANTS: Out of 229 patients with distal tibia fractures presenting to our institution from 1999 to 2014, 100 were treated in a 2-stage fashion utilizing this protocol. INTERVENTION: Prepping the external fixator into the surgical field during the second-stage/definitive open reduction internal fixation procedure. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENT: The rates of deep and superficial infections after definitive fixation. RESULTS: The deep infection rate was 13%, and the superficial infection rate was 11%. CONCLUSIONS: Infection rates using this protocol are comparable to previously reported infection rates for two-stage surgical treatment of pilon fractures. This protocol provides the treating surgeon information about an alternative method to streamline definitive fixation. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.