Near-fatal infection following an elective ankle-fracture fixation: less risk should not mean less vigilance.
- Author:
Giada BIANCHI
1
;
Dingxin QIN
;
Joseph A DEARANI
;
Qian QI
Author Information
1. Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN, USA.
- Publication Type:Case Reports
- MeSH:
Aged;
Aged, 80 and over;
Ankle Injuries;
surgery;
Elective Surgical Procedures;
Endocarditis, Bacterial;
etiology;
Female;
Fracture Fixation, Internal;
adverse effects;
Humans;
Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus;
Staphylococcal Infections;
etiology
- From:
Chinese Medical Journal
2011;124(12):1911-1914
- CountryChina
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Surgical fixation of closed ankle fracture is traditionally viewed as having low risk for post-operative infection. Only a few cases of surgical-site confined infection have been reported. Because of the low infection risk, the necessity for perioperative prophylaxis has been questioned. We report a case of fulminant methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus endocarditis occurring shortly after an elective ankle fixation surgery in an elderly woman with chronic rheumatoid arthritis. Because systemic infection was unexpected, she had been given antipyretics for postoperative fever until just before rapid clinical deterioration. A nearly fatal hematogenous infection occurred after such a procedure, indicating the necessity for being on high alert and considering the possibility of bloodstream infection.
