OBJECTIVE: To explore the safety and effectiveness of the "talus home technique (THT) " in the surgery of pronation open ankle fractures (POAF). METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 14 patients with POAF admitted between January 2023 and December 2023 who met the selection criteria. There were 7 males and 7 females; age ranged from 26 to 58 years, with a median age of 53 years. Injury causes included 9 cases of traffic accident injury, 3 cases of fall from hight injury, and 2 cases of crush injury. There were 5 cases of type Ⅱ, 6 cases of type ⅢA, and 3 cases of type ⅢB according to Gustilo classification; and 6 cases of pronation-abduction grade Ⅲ and 8 cases of pronation-external rotation grade Ⅳ according to Lauge-Hansen classification. Emergency first-stage debridement of the ankle joint was performed, followed by second-stage open reduction and internal fixation surgery. The THT was used through a limited incision on the lateral malleolus to restore the height of the lateral malleolus, rotational alignment, and anatomical relationship of the distal tibiofibular syndesmosis (DTFS). Wound healing was observed postoperatively. At 4 months postoperatively, weight-bearing anteroposterior, lateral, and mortise view X-ray films and CT scans of both ankles were reviewed to measure the medial clear space (MCS), tibiofibular clear space (TFCS), distal fibular tip to lateral process of talus (DFTL), and anterior/posterior syndesmosis distances of DTFS, and the quality of reduction of ankle fractures was evaluated. Ankle joint function was assessed using the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot score, and active dorsiflexion/plantar flexion range of motion were recorded at last follow-up. RESULTS: After second-stage internal fixation, 8 patients achieved wound healing by first intention, 1 case had skin edge necrosis, 2 cases had local skin necrosis, 1 case had extensive medial soft tissue defect, and 2 cases developed medial wound infection with sinus formation. All 14 patients were followed up 13-24 months (mean, 16.8 months). Postoperative X-ray films showed 1 case of delayed union of the lateral malleolus, which healed after bone grafting at 12 months; the remaining 13 cases achieved clinical union at 12-32 weeks (mean, 21.5 weeks). At 4 months postoperatively, X-ray films and CT examination showed no significant differences in MCS, TFCS, DFTL, and anterior/posterior syndesmosis distances of DTFS between the healthy and affected sides ( P>0.05), with no poor DTFS reduction. AOFAS ankle-hindfoot score ranged from 80 to 95, with an average of 87.7; ankle range of motion ranged from 10° to 25° (mean, 19.6°) in dorsiflexion and from 32° to 50° (mean, 41.2°) in plantar flexion. CONCLUSION THT is safe and effective in POAF surgery. It can restore lateral malleolar height and rotational alignment, enhance DTFS reduction quality, and obtain satisfactory short-term functional recovery of the ankle.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Ankle Fractures/surgery* ; Adult ; Retrospective Studies ; Fracture Fixation, Internal/methods* ; Pronation ; Fractures, Open/surgery* ; Talus/surgery* ; Treatment Outcome ; Debridement/methods* ; Ankle Joint/surgery* ; Open Fracture Reduction/methods*

OBJECTIVE: To review the current research status on the diagnosis and treatment of fracture-related infection (FRI). METHODS: The research literature in the field of FRI both domestically and internationally in recent years were widely reviewed, and the research progress of FRI from the aspects of definition and classification, epidemiological characteristics, diagnosis and treatment elaborated, in order to provide reference for clinical practices. RESULTS: In recent years, specific classifications for FRI have gradually emerged. FRI is characterized by high incidence, high recurrence, high disability rates, and significant economic costs. Key diagnostic points include clinical signs and symptoms, imaging tests, serological biomarkers, pathogen identification, and histopathological examination. Treatment principles encompass debridement, management of implants (retention or removal), systemic and local antibiotic use, reconstruction of bone and soft tissue defects, and functional and psychological rehabilitation. CONCLUSION Although FRI is a catastrophic complication following limb bone trauma, early precise diagnosis and standardized treatment are key to improving cure rates, reducing recurrence, and enhancing patients' quality of life.
Humans ; Fractures, Bone/complications* ; Bone Diseases, Infectious/therapy* ; Debridement/methods* ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use* ; Orthopedic Procedures/methods*

OBJECTIVE: To explore clinical efficacy of tibial transverse transport (TTT) combined with debridement in treating necrotizing fasciitis of the lower extremities. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 31 patients with necrotizing fasciitis of the lower extremities who were treated with TTT from January 2021 to October 2023, including 28 males and 3 females, aged from 44 to 76 years old with an average of (57.58±8.79) years old. In-hospital mortality rate, amputation rate, length of hospital stay, hospitalization cost, number of surgeries, and inflammatory indicators before and after operation (white blood cells, hemoglobin, C-reactive protein, albumin), as well as wound healing and daily living ability were observed and compared. RESULTS: All 31 patients were followed up for 3 to 12 months with an average of (6.61±2.46) months. All patients' wounds healed without recurrence. The wound healing time was (4.96±2.61) months, amputation rate of 31 patients was 3.22% (1/31), in-hospital mortality rate was 0%, the length of hospital stay was (27.10±24.51) days, the hospitalization cost was (107, 300 ± 83, 300) yuan, and the number of surgeries was (3.26±1.93) times. White blood cells, C-reactive protein and albumin before operation were (13.41±5.54) ×10⁹/L, (136.67±73.50) mg·L^-1 and (25.92±5.59) g·L^-11 respectively, and improved to (11.05±3.65) ×10⁹/L, (79.91±51.40) mg·L^-1, and (30.31±4.02) g·L^-1 at 2 weeks after operation, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05);there was no statistically significant difference in hemoglobin before and after operation (P>0.05). At the latest follow-up, 16 patients were able to take care of themselves, 12 patients were partially self-sufficient, and 3 patients were completely unable to take care of themselves. CONCLUSION TTT with debridement could achieve satisfactory clinical efficacy in treating necrotizing fasciitis of the lower extremities.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Adult ; Fasciitis, Necrotizing/mortality* ; Retrospective Studies ; Debridement ; Lower Extremity/surgery* ; Tibia/surgery*

Tophaceous wound represent a severe complication of end-stage gout, characterized by the deposition of monosodium urate (MSU) crystals leading to localized tissue ischemia, chronic inflammation, and non-healing ulcers. The pathological mechanism involves the formation of MSU crystals under persistent hyperuricemia, inflammatory encapsulation, and mechanical compression of the vascular system due to tophus enlarge-ment, ultimately resulting in chronic non-healing ulcers. This article consolidates current evidence to outline an integrated management strategy for such wounds, combining systemic metabolic control with localized interventions. Effective treatment depends on maintaining serum uric acid levels below 300 μmol/L through urate-lowering agents, including conventional drugs and novel urate transporter 1 inhibitors such as AR882, complemented by anti-inflammatory medications such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and glucocorticoids to alleviate pain and reduce inflammation. Topical agents and advanced dressings are utilized to support healing and manage exudate. Debridement, which encompasses sharp, ultrasonic, and micro-techniques, is essential for removing necrotic tissue and MSU deposits, with efficacy assessed via local uric acid monitoring. Surgical reconstructions, including skin flap grafting and tendon or ligament reconstruction, are indicated for significant tissue loss or functional impairment. Long-term management emphasizes continuous metabolic control, personalized rehabilitation, and lifestyle modification. The comprehensive treatment of tophaceous wounds requires multidisciplinary collaboration to balance local repair and systemic regulation for improved prognosis. Future research directions include gene therapy to regulate purine metabolism and artificial intelligence-assisted personalized treatment plans, to achieve precision medicine for tophaceous wounds.
Humans ; Wound Healing ; Gout/therapy* ; Uric Acid/blood* ; Debridement

Acute pancreatitis is one of the common surgical acute abdominal diseases. Since people first recognized acute pancreatitis in the middle of the nineteenth century, a diversified minimally invasive treatment model with standardization has been formed today. According to the main line of surgical intervention of acute pancreatitis treatment,this period can be roughly divided into five stages:exploration stage, conservative treatment stage, pancreatectomy stage, debridement and drainage of the pancreatic necrotic tissue stage, and minimally invasive treatment as the first choice led by the multidisciplinary team mode stage. Throughout history, the evolution and progress of surgical intervention strategies for acute pancreatitis cannot be separated from the progress of science and technology, the update of treatment concepts and the further understanding of the pathogenesis. This article will summarize the surgical characteristics of acute pancreatitis treatment at each stage to explain the development of surgical treatment of acute pancreatitis,to help investigate the development of surgical treatment of acute pancreatitis in the future.
Humans ; Acute Disease ; Treatment Outcome ; Debridement ; Pancreatitis, Acute Necrotizing/pathology* ; Drainage

Infected pancreatic necrosis(IPN) is the main surgical indication of acute pancreatitis. Minimally invasive debridement has become the mainstream surgical strategy of IPN,and it is only preserved for IPN patients who are not response for adequate non-surgical treatment. Transluminal or retroperitoneal drainage is preferred,and appropriate debridement can be performed. At present,it is reported that video assisted transluminal,trans-abdominal and retroperitoneal approaches can effectively control IPN infection. However,in terms of reducing pancreatic leakage and other complications,surgical and endoscopic transgastric debridement may be the future direction in the treatment of IPN.
Humans ; Pancreatitis, Acute Necrotizing/complications* ; Acute Disease ; Debridement/methods* ; Endoscopy/methods* ; Drainage/methods* ; Intraabdominal Infections/complications* ; Treatment Outcome

Objective: To evaluate the short-term outcomes of non-contact low-frequency ultrasonic debridement in treating periprosthetic joint infections(PJI). Methods: The clinical data of patients with PJI who met the eligibility criteria and were treated with non-contact low-frequency ultrasonic debridement from August 2021 to January 2022 at the Department of Orthopaedics,the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University were prospectively analyzed. PJI was defined according to the modified Musculoskeletal Infection Society criteria in 2016. After mechanical debridement,an 8-mm handheld non-contact low-frequency ultrasound probe was used for ultrasonic debridement in the whole surgical area at a frequency of (25±5)kHz and power of 90% for 5 minutes. Each ultrasound lasted 10 seconds with 3-second intervals. The probe was repeatedly sonicated among all soft tissue,bone interface and metal prosthesis surface(patients underwent debridement,antibiotics and implant retention (DAIR)) in the surgical area. The femoral canal of the hip joint,the distal femoral canal and the posterior capsule of the knee were fully sonicated with a special right-angle probe. Before and after ultrasonic debridement,20 ml of liquid was extracted from each operation area and injected into aerobic and anaerobic culture bottles,respectively,for pathogen culture. Harris hip score and Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) score were used to evaluate clinical function. Treatment failure was defined as the recurrence of infection in the same joint. The patients were routinely followed up in the outpatient clinic at 1,3,and 6 months postoperatively and then annually with a deadline of August 2022. The paired t-test,rank sum,Mann-Whitney U or χ² test was used to compare the observed data,and rates among multiple groups were compared using the Bonferroni approach. Results: A total of 45 patients were included in the study,including 21 men and 24 women with age of (65.8±15.2)years(range: 20 to 80 years) and body mass index of (29.3±4.2)kg/m²(range: 20.2 to 38.5 kg/m²). Twenty-eight patients (18 hips and 10 knees) underwent one-stage revision,and 17 cases (5 hips and 12 knees) underwent DAIR. Three of the patients (6.7%) had recurrent infections during follow-up. There were no intraoperative complications related to ultrasonic debridement (neurovascular and muscle injury,poor wound healing and fat liquefaction). Seventeen patients who received DAIR were followed for a median(M(IQR)) of 9(3) months,and two relapsed 3 weeks and 3 months post-operation,respectively. In addition,28 patients who underwent one-stage revision were followed for a median of 9(2) months,and one of the patients (3.6%,1/28) had a recurrence 6 months post-operation. The culture-positive rate of preoperative aspiration was 47.6% (20/42). The data of intraoperative soft tissue culture was 86.7% (39/45). The culture-positive rate of wound liquid before ultrasonic debridement was 46.7% (21/45). And the culture-positive rate after ultrasonic debridement was (75.6% (34/45)). After sonication,the culture-positive rate of explanted prostheses was 88.9% (40/45). There was a significant difference in culture-positive rates among all five cultures (χ²=35.483,P<0.01). Further pairwise comparison showed that the culture-positive rate of wound liquid after ultrasonic debridement was higher than that before ultrasonic debridement (χ²=7.901,P=0.005) but was not significantly different from the positive rates of other cultures (all P>0.05). The median number of colonies 24 hours after ultrasonic debridement(2 240 (1 310) CFU/ml,range: 310 to 3 140 CFU/ml) was significantly higher than that before debridement(450 (550) CFU/ml,range: 10 to 910 CFU/ml) (U=43, P=0.017). The post-operative Harris ((78.6±4.2)points,range:70.5 to 85.3 points) and HSS scores((76.4±4.8)points,range: 68.5 to 84.3 points) were significantly higher than the preoperative scores((46.0±9.8)points,range: 27.5 to 64.3 points;and (45.5±10.3)points,range: 27.6 to 63.1 points) (t=-14.6,t=-12.7;both P<0.01). Conclusions: Non-contact low-frequency ultrasonic debridement can increase the culture-positive rate and lead to a favorable short-term outcome. In addition,no complications are associated with using this new technique to treat PJI.
Female ; Humans ; Male ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Debridement ; Knee Joint ; Orthopedic Procedures ; Prospective Studies ; Ultrasonics

PURPOSE: The study aimed to identify the risk factors of recurrence in chronic osteomyelitis (COM) and to document the microbiological patterns pre- and intra-operatively and at recurrence, if any. METHODS: We performed retrospective review on COM patients treated with surgical debridement and a 6-week course of antibiotics. The patients with symptoms of osteomyelitis for at least 6 weeks, present or past episodes of discharging sinus, documentation of bone sequestration in operative notes or preoperative images were included in the study. Patients with symptoms of osteomyelitis < 6 weeks, lack of history of discharging sinus or lack of evidence of sequestration in preoperative images or intraoperative notes were excluded. Logistic regression models were used to assess the impact of risk factors of recurrence. Cohen-Kappa scores were derived to see the concordance between pre-operative and intra-operative isolates and at recurrence. RESULTS: Totally, 147 COM patients (115 males and 32 females, mean age (33 ± 19) years) were included in this study. Recurrence was noted in 28 patients (19.0%). Polymicrobial growth and extended spectrum beta-lactamase producing Enterobacteriaceae increased the chance of recurrence. Cierny-Mader stage-1, hematogenous aetiology and negative intraoperative culture reduced the chance of recurrence. Concordance between pre-operative and intra-operative cultures was 59.85% (Kappa score 0.526, p < 0.001) and between index surgery and at recurrence was 23.81% (Kappa score 0.155, p < 0.001). Lack of knowledge of causative organism preoperatively did not affect outcome. At mean follow-up (42 ± 15) months, all patients were apparently infection free for at least 1 year. CONCLUSION Polymicrobial growth and multi-drug resistant organisms increase the risk of recurrence in COM. Patients' age, gender, diabetes mellitus, previous failed treatment, duration of symptoms, haemoglobin, white cell count, C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate at presentation did not have any impact on the recurrence of infection. Pre-operative isolation of organism is of questionable value. Recurrences of infections do occur and are more of re-infections than relapses. Diligent isolation of organism must be attempted even in re-debridements. Even patients with recurrences do well with appropriate debridement and antibiotic therapy.
Male ; Female ; Humans ; Adolescent ; Young Adult ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Debridement ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use* ; Treatment Outcome ; Osteomyelitis/surgery* ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies

Objective: To examine the feasibility and technical considerations of thorough debridement using uniportal thoracoscopic surgery for tuberculous empyema complicated by chest wall tuberculosis. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 38 patients who underwent comprehensive uniportal thoracoscopy debridement for empyema complicated by chest wall tuberculosis in the Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, from March 2019 to August 2021. There were 23 males and 15 females, aged (M(IQR)) 30 (25) years (range: 18 to 78 years). The patients were cleared of chest wall tuberculosis under general anesthesia and underwent an incision through the intercostal sinus, followed by the whole fiberboard decortication method. Chest tube drainage was used for pleural cavity disease and negative pressure drainage for chest wall tuberculosis with SB tube, and without muscle flap filling and pressure bandaging. If there was no air leakage, the chest tube was removed first, followed by the removal of the SB tube after 2 to 7 days if there was no obvious residual cavity on the CT scan. The patients were followed up in outpatient clinics and by telephone until October 2022. Results: The operation time was 2.0 (1.5) h (range: 1 to 5 h), and blood loss during the operation was 100 (175) ml (range: 100 to 1 200 ml). The most common postoperative complication was prolonged air leak, with an incidence rate of 81.6% (31/38). The postoperative drainage time of the chest tube was 14 (12) days (range: 2 to 31 days) and the postoperative drainage time of the SB tube was 21 (14) days (range: 4 to 40 days). The follow-up time was 25 (11) months (range: 13 to 42 months). All patients had primary healing of their incisions and there was no tuberculosis recurrence during the follow-up period. Conclusion: Uniportal thoracoscopic thorough debridement combined with postoperative standardized antituberculosis treatment is safe and feasible for the treatment of tuberculous empyema with chest wall tuberculosis, which could achieve a good long-term recovery effect.
Male ; Female ; Humans ; Abscess/complications* ; Empyema, Pleural/etiology* ; Empyema, Tuberculous/complications* ; Retrospective Studies ; Thoracic Wall ; Debridement/adverse effects* ; China ; Chest Tubes/adverse effects* ; Tuberculosis/complications* ; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted ; Drainage

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical significance of different plastic surgeries in the treatment of poor healing wound after posterior spinal internal fixation. METHODS: In this study, 16 patients with poor incision healing after posterior spinal internal fixation were retrospectively included, and dif-ferent plastic surgery treatment plans were determined according to the wound characteristics and defect condition. The measures included debridement, vacuum sealing drainage (VSD), and different tissue flaps according to the location and extent of the defect. RESULTS: A total of 16 patients meeting the criteria were included, of whom 3 were treated with debridement combined with VSD and wound suture directly, 6 were treated with debridement combined with Z-flap for wound repair, 1 was treated with bilateral sacrospinous muscle flap for dural defect repair combined with Z-flap for skin wound repair, 1 was treated with lectus dorsi flap for wound repair, 3 were treated with the fourth lumbar artery perforator flap for wound repair. The wound was repaired with local rotating flap in 1 case and gluteus maximus musculocutaneous flap in 1 case. Among the 16 patients, 7 cases were positive for wound culture, including 3 cases of Staphylococcus aureus, 1 case of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 1 case of Staphylococcus epidermidis, 1 case of Escherichia coli, 1 case of Klebsiella pneumoniae, and the other 9 cases were negative. After surgery, there were 7 patients with different degrees of poor wound healing, including 3 patients undergoing dressing change, 2 patients undergoing secondary debridement and suture, 1 patient undergoing free scalp skin graft, and 1 patient undergoing local effusion suction treatment. All the above 7 patients were discharged from hospital after improvement, and the remaining 9 patients had good first-stage wound hea-ling after surgery. None of the 16 patients underwent internal fixation. CONCLUSION Multiple factors could lead to poor wound healing after posterior spinal internal fixation. Early intervention, thorough debridement, removal of necrotic/infected tissue, and selection of suitable skin flap for effective wound fil-ling and covering were important means to ensure wound healing after spinal surgery and reduce removal of internal fixation.
Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Wound Healing ; Debridement ; Plastic Surgery Procedures ; Surgical Flaps/blood supply* ; Skin Transplantation ; Treatment Outcome