Aim. A novel anti-infective biopolymer implant coating was developed to prevent bacterial biofilm formation and allow on-demand burst release of anti-infective silver (Ag) into the surrounding of the implant at any time after surgery via focused high-energy extracorporeal shock waves (fhESW). Method. A semi-crystalline Poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) was loaded with homogeneously dissolved silver (Ag) applied onto Ti6Al4V discs. A fibroblast WST-1 assay was performed to ensure adequate biocompatibility of the Ag concentration at 6%. The prevention of early biofilm formation was investigated in a biofilm model with Staphylococcus epidermidis RP62A after incubation for 24 hours via quantitative bacteriology. In addition, the effect of released Ag after fhESW (Storz DUOLITH SD1: 4000 impulses, 1,24 mJ/mm. 2. , 3Hz, 162J) was assessed via optical density of bacterial cultures (Escherichia coli TG1, Staphylococcus epidermidis RP62A, Staphylococcus aureus 6850) and compared to an established electroplated silver coating. The amount of released Ag after the application of different intensities of fhESW was measured and compared to a control group without fhESW via graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GF-AAS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). Results. The coating with 6% Ag reduced Staphylococcus epidermidis biofilm formation by 99.7% (mean±SD: 2.1×10^5 ± 3,9×10^5 CFU/µL) compared to uncoated controls (6.8×10^7 ± 4.9×10^7 CFU/µL); (p=0.0001). After applying fhESW the commercially available electroplated silver coating did not prevent the growth of all tested bacterial strains. Bacterial growth is delayed with 4% Ag and completely inhibited with 6% Ag in the novel coating, except for a small increase of S. aureus after 17 hours. SEM and EDS confirmed a local disruption of the coating after fhESW. Conclusions. This novel anti-infective implant coating has the potential to prevent bacterial biofilm formation. The on-demand burst release of silver via fhESW could be an adjunctive in the treatment of implant related infection and is of particular interest in the concept of single stage revision surgery

Introduction. Fracture related infections (FRI) following intramedullary nailing for tibial shaft fractures remain challenging to treat with associated high patient morbidity and healthcare costs. Recently, antibiotic-coated nails have been introduced as a strategy to reduce implant related infection rates in high-risk patients. We present the largest single-centre case series on ETN PROtect® outcomes reporting on fracture union, infection rates and treatment complications. Materials and Methods. 56 adult patients underwent surgery with ETN PROtect® between 01/09/17 and 31/12/20. Indications consisted of acute open fractures and complex revision cases (FRI, non-union surgery and re-fracture) with a mean of 3 prior surgical interventions. 51 patients had an open fracture as their index injury. We report on patient characteristics and outcomes including radiological/clinical union and deep infection. The one-year minimum follow-up rate was 87.5%. Results. One (1.8%) patient developed a deep surgical infection and associated non-union requiring further surgery. In addition, we identified three cases (5.4%) of aseptic non-union following facture treatment with ETN PROtect®. Of the 5 patients who underwent staged complex revision surgery for established FRI with ETN PROtect®, all had treatment failure with ongoing symptoms of deep infection requiring further treatment. Conclusions. Use of the ETN PROtect® nail in high-risk patients in the acute trauma setting demonstrates promising outcomes in the prevention of implant-related infection. In our limited series we have failed to observe any benefit over uncoated nails, when used in treating cases of established FRI/osteomyelitis and would therefore advise caution in their use, especially in view of the high cost

Aim. Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (SAB) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality, 20–30 % risk of infection in patient with implant related infection (IRI) .18F-FDG PET/CT is helpful in the management of SAB, leading to detection of more metastatic foci and treatment modification and finally decrease relapses and mortality rate. Our objective was to analyze mortality in high risk SAB patients undergoing 18F-FDG PET/CT and to see whether it's use in patients with IRI reduced their mortality. Method. We performed a retrospective study at a university hospital in Belgium. All cases of high risk adult SAB between January 2014 and June 2017 were reviewed. We collected the clinical characteristics including presence of metastatic foci on 18F-FDG PET/ CT, mortality at 1 year. Results. A total of 102 patients were included. Twenty-one patient with IRI were identified (20.6%). In 94.1 % (N=96) SAB were due to methicillin-sensitive staphylococcus aureus (MSSA). 18F-FDG PET/ CT was performed in 47% (N =48) of patients and a metastatic foci was identified in 45.8% of cases (N=22/48). The detection of metastatic foci lead to surgical intervention in a site other than the site of IRI in 38% versus 14% (P < 0.001) in patients undergoing or not 18F-FDG PET/CT respectively. The overall mortality rate was 31.3 % (32/102). The mortality rate was 16.6% (8 /48) and 41.3 % (24/54) in patients undergoing or not 18F-FDG PET/ CT respectively (P=0.03). For IRI, the overall mortality was 9.3 % versus 15.6% in patients undergoing or not 18F-FDG PET/ CT respectively (P<0.001). There was a significant difference in mortality rate at 30 (P=0.001), 90 days (P–0.01) and one year (P–0.004) between patients undergoing or not 18F-FDG PET/ CT respectively. In bivariate analysis, the overall, 30, 90 days and one year mortality rate was significantly reduced among patient with kidney failure (P< 0.001), diabetic foot infection (P=0.006), age >70 years (P=0.007) and prosthetic joint or plate infection (P< 0.001) in whom the 18F-FDG PET/ CT was performed. Conclusions. Mortality rate was reduced in high risk SAB patients undergoing 18F-FDG PET/ CT. The use of 18F-FDG PET/CT reduced mortality in patients with PJI by detecting more metastatic site leading to more aggressive treatment

Background and Purpose. Although the treatment for infected total hip arthroplasty (THA) has been still controversial, some reports suggested two-stage revision THA seems to be more preferable rather than one-stage revision. The purpose of this study is to estimate the outcome of treatment for infected THA in our institutions. Patients and methods. The medical records of patients who have been underwent surgical treatment for infected THA between 2006 and 2012 in two hospitals and followed more than one year after surgery were reviewed. 34 patients and 35 hips were included. Age at surgery, gender, a period until surgical treatment after diagnosis of infection, method of treatment (debridement, one-stage or two-stage revision THA) and the outcome are estimated for each hips. Remission was defined by the absence of local and systemic sign of implant related infection and the normalization of WBC and C-reactive protein value without antibiotics. Result. A mean post-treatment follow-up period was 32.3 months. Two hips were removed without spacer or reconstruction because their general conditions were poor. The remission rates were 22%(2/9) in debridement and retention, 60%(3/5) in one-stage revision THA and 81%(21/26) in two-stage revision THA respectively. Conclusion. The remission rate of two-stage revision was better than one-stage revision in this study. Although our study supports two-stage revision for the treatment of infected THA, the possibility of one-stage revision should not be neglected because the outcome of one-stage revision could be improve in the presence of effective antibiotics and the physical and psychological burden of two-stage revision are serious

Recent NICE guidelines suggest that Total Hip Arthroplasty (THA) be offered to all patients with a displaced intracapsular neck of femur fracture who: are able to walk independently; not cognitively impaired and are medically fit for the anaesthesia and procedure. This is likely to have significant logistical implications for individual departments. Data from the National Hip Fracture Database was analysed retrospectively between January 2009 and November 2011. The aim was to determine if patients with displaced intracapsular neck of femur fractures admitted to a single tertiary referral orthopaedic trauma unit received a THA if they met NICE criteria. Case notes were then reviewed to obtain outcome and complication rates after surgery. Five hundred and forty-six patients were admitted with a displaced intracapsular neck of femur fracture over the described time period. Sixty-five patients met the NICE criteria to receive a THA (mean age 74 years, M:F = 16: 49); however, 21 patients had a THA. The other patients received either a cemented Thompson or bipolar hemiarthroplasty. Within the THA cohort there were no episodes of dislocation, venous thromboembolism, significant wound complications or infections that required further surgery. Within the hemiarthroplasty cohort there was 2 mortalities, 2 implant related infections, 1 dislocation and 2 required revision to a THA. There is evidence to suggest better outcomes in this cohort of patients, in terms pain and function. There is also a forecasted cost saving for departments, largely due to the relative reduction in complications. However, there were many cases (44) in our department, which would have been eligible for a THA, according to the NICE guidelines, who received a hemiarthroplasty. This is likely a reflection of the increased technical demand, and larger logistical difficulties faced by the department. We did note more complications within the hemiarthroplasty group, however, the numbers are too small to address statistical significance, and a longer follow up would be needed to further evaluate this. There is a clear scope for optimisation and improvement of infrastructure to develop time and resources to cope with the increased demand for THA for displaced intracapsular neck of femur fractures, in order to closely adhere to the NICE guidelines