OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical effects of VSD combined with continual irrigation in treating the infection of limbs fracture after internal fixation.

METHODSFrom March 2010 to June 2015, 10 patients with infection of limbs fracture after internal fixation were treated with VSD combined with continual irrigation. There were 7 males and 3 females, aged from 11 to 58 years with an average of 34.4 years. Course of disease was from 1 to 8 months with an average of 4.8 months. Postoperative infection occurred in fractures of ulna and radius of 4 cases, tibiofibular fractures of 3 cases, calcaneal fractures of 2 cases, femoral fractures of 1 case. Eight infections were open fracture and 2 infections were close fracture. In additon to above treatment, antibiotics, dressing changing or skingrafting were used in the patients. Informations of wound surface healing, change dressings, original infection focus were observed.

RESULTSAll infections got control, the wound healing after change dressings or skingrafting, and no complications such as osteomyelitis were found. The mean treatment time was 38.4 days(ranged, 29 to 45 days) and replacement times was 2.2 times(ranged, 1 to 4 times). All patients were followed up, no recurrent infections were found at 1 year after fracture healing.

CONCLUSIONSVSD combined with continual irrigation can effectively decrease the incidence of complications and promote the wound growth, healing and considerably shorten the healing time. It is an effective method for the treatment of infection of limbs fracture after internal fixation.