Bacterial biofilms are associated with at least 80% of human bacterial infections. The clinical treatment of biofilm infection is still arduous, and therefore many new treatment options are under study, such as probiotics and their derivatives, quorum sensing inhibitors, antimicrobial peptides, phage therapy, organic acids, light therapy, and plant extracts. However, most of these schemes are not mature, and it is important to develop new research directions of anti-biofilms.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effectiveness of simultaneous treatment of traumatic calcaneal osteomyelitis and defect deformity with near-arc bone transport by Ilizarov technique.MethodsBetween January 2014 and August 2020, 6 cases of traumatic calcaneal osteomyelitis with defect deformities were treated by simultaneous treatment of near-arc bone transport by Ilizarov technique. The patients were all male; aged from 40 to 61 years (mean, 49.3 years). The disease duration was 2-72 months, with an average of 16.1 months. All patients were traumatic calcaneal osteomyelitis, including 4 cases of falling from height, 1 case of traffic accident injury, and 1 case of crushing injury. The infection affected the talar-heel joint in 4 cases, and the talar-heel joint was fused or partially fused in 2 cases. After the external fixator was removed, the Maryland foot scoring system was used to evaluate the foot function, and the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot function scoring system was used to evaluate the ankle-hindfoot function, and were compared with the preoperative scores.ResultsAll patients were followed up 1.5-26.0 months, with an average of 16.3 months. All incisions healed by first intention, no recurrence of infection occurred, and no surgical intervention such as second-stage bone grafting and fusion was performed. Five cases of calcaneal osteomyelitis with defect deformity underwent one-stage osteotomy and slipped, 1 case of the original bone mass after debridement after infection of calcaneal fractures slipped directly. The bone sliding time was 28-62 days, with an average of 38.7 days; the sliding distance was 3.1-5.2 cm, with an average of 3.6 cm. In 1 patient, due to the short follow-up time, the calcaneal slip bone had not healed, the external fixator had not been removed (not involved in clinical scoring), but the foot shape, reexamination of X-ray films and with frame walking were satisfactory. The time with external fixator was 6-8 months, with an average of 6.5 months in the other 5 cases. After removing the external fixator, the foot returned to three-point weight-bearing, and the longitudinal arch was recovered to varying degrees, and there was no obvious varus valgus. The Maryland score after removal of the external fixator was 80.8±4.7, which was significantly higher than that before operation (33.6±4.3) (t=–35.782, P=0.000), 3 cases were excellent and 2 cases were good; the median AOFAS ankle-hindfoot score was 84, the interquartile range was (79, 86), which was significantly improved when compared with the preoperative score [the median score was 33.5, the interquartile range was (21.3, 37.5)] (Z=–2.023, P=0.043), 4 cases were excellent and 1 case was good. Among them, pain, walking distance, getting rid of walking aids, going up and down stairs, deformity, etc. were significantly improved when compared with preoperative ones. Mobility such as subtalar and hock joints were poor or disappeared.ConclusionSimultaneous treatment of traumatic calcaneal osteomyelitis and defect deformity with near-arc bone transport by Ilizarov technique can optimize the operation method, reduce the number of operations, and try to simulate the original shape of the calcaneus. It is an effective, economical, and novel treatment method.
ObjectiveTo study the effectiveness of trifocal bone transport by using monolateral rail system in the treatment of bone defects caused by post-traumatic tibial osteomyelitis.MethodsThe clinical data of 28 patients with tibial defects caused by post-traumatic osteomyelitis treated with trifocal bone transport technique by using monolateral rail system between January 2012 and June 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 26 males and 2 females, aged 22-59 years (mean, 41.3 years). The causes of injury included 13 cases of traffic accident injury, 9 cases of falling from height, 4 cases of heavy object injury, and 2 cases of crushing injury. The disease duration was 4.5-17.0 months (mean, 7.1 months). The length of bone defect was 6.5-16.8 cm (mean, 10.3 cm). And the range of soft tissue defect ranged from 3.5 cm×2.0 cm to 18.0 cm×11.0 cm. The bone transporting time, external fixation time, duration of regenerate consolidation, and external fixation index were recorded, and the complications were observed. At last follow-up, the bone and functional results were evaluated according to the criteria given by Association for the Study and Application of the Method of the Ilizarov (ASAMI).ResultsAll patients were successfully followed up after removing the external fixator with an average of 35 months (range, 24-65 months). The bone transporting time was 41-136 days (mean, 60.2 days), the external fixation time was 7.5-20.0 months (mean, 13.4 months), the external fixation index was 1.1-1.9 months/cm (mean, 1.4 months/cm), the duration of regenerate consolidation was 6.0-16.5 months (mean, 10.5 months). Pin tract infection occurred in 12 cases, delayed union on docking site was occurred in 9 cases, axial deviation was observed in 2 cases, poor regenerate consolidation was presented in 1 case, and refracture on docking site after fixator removal was occurred in 1 case. There was no recurrence of infection, amputation, vascular and neurologic complications, and osteofascial compartment syndrome. At last follow-up, according to ASAMI criterion, the bone healing results were excellent in 17 cases, good in 7 cases, and fair in 4 cases, with an excellent and good rate of 85.7%; the functional results were excellent in 15 cases, good in 10 cases, and fair in 3 cases, with an excellent and good rate of 89.3%.ConclusionTrifocal bone transport by using monolateral rail system is an effective method in the treatment of bone defect caused by post-traumatic osteomyelitis which can reduce bone transport time, external fixation time, and complications.
Objective To investigate the clinical significance of the distally-based sural musculocutaneous flap for the treatment of chronic calcaneal osteomyelitis. Methods From January 2002 to October 2005, 7 patients (4 males, 3 females; age range, 15-68 years ) were treated with the distallybased sural musculocutaneous flap, who had chronic calcanealosteomyelitis after calcaneal fracture. After the radical debridement for all the nonviable and poorly vascularized tissues, all the chronic calcaneal osteomyelitis patients, who had suffered from open calcaneal fracture or closed calcaneal fracture, were treated with the open reduction, the internal fixation, and thebone graft. The ulcer lasted for 3-12 months before diagnosis of osteomyelitis. The musculocutaneous flaps ranged in size from 8 cm×4 cm to 12 cm×7 cmand the muscle flaps ranged from 4 cm×3 cm to 6 cm×5 cm. The donor defects were closed primarily in 5 patients and were resurfaced with the splitthicknessskin graft in 2 patients. Results All the musculocutaneous flaps survived completely and all the wounds healed smoothly. All the patients followed up for 2-6 months had no recurrence of osteomyelitis or return to their preoperative ambulatory status.Conclusion It is feasible to use the distallybased sural musculocutaneous flap for treatment of chronic calcaneal osteomyelitis.
Objective To observe the inhibitory characteristics of silver nanoparticles (AgNP) on bacterial biofilms and investigate their inhibitory effect on biofilm formation on three common orthopedic biomaterials. Methods The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimal biofilm inhibitory concentration (MBIC) of AgNP were determined by microplate dilution assay. Biofilms of Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923) were cultured on three orthopedic biomaterials (titanium alloy, titanium oxide, and stainless steel) and intervened with AgNP at concentrations of 32, 16, 8, 4, 2 and 0 μg/mL to determine the MBICs on the three materials. The effects of AgNP on biofilm formation were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy and measuring optical density. Results The MIC and MBIC of AgNP in the microplate assay were both 16 µg/mL. The MBICs of AgNP on biofilm formation in titanium oxide, titanium alloy, and stainless steel were 16 μg/mL, 32 μg/mL, and 32 μg/mL, respectively. Among the three materials, the lowest optical density was observed on titanium oxide, while the highest was on titanium alloy. Conclusions AgNP has strong antibacterial biofilm characteristics and can prevent the formation of Staphylococcus aureus biofilm in vitro. Biofilm formation is most pronounced on titanium alloy, least on titanium oxide, and intermediate on stainless steel.
ObjectiveTo explore the effectiveness of vacuum sealing drainage (VSD) combined with open bone graft for tibial traumatic osteomyelitis. MethodsBetween June 2007 and December 2012, 23 cases of tibial traumatic osteomyelitis were treated, including 15 males and 8 females with an average age of 32.5 years (range, 22-48 years). The time from injury to admission was 7-18 months (mean, 8.6 months). There was local bone scarring in 15 cases, the size ranged from 8 cm×4 cm to 15 cm×8 cm. The CT multi-planar reconstruction was carried out preoperatively. Eleven cases had segmental bone sclerosis with a length of 1.5 to 3.8 cm (mean, 2.6 cm); 12 cases had partial bone sclerosis with a range of 1/3 to 2/3 of the bone diameter. On the basis of complete debridement, infection was controlled by VSD; bone defect was repaired by VSD combined with open bone graft. After there was fresh granulation tissue, the wound was repaired by free skin graft or local skin flap transfer. ResultsNail infection occurred in 2 cases, which was cured after the use of antibiotics. The wound healed at the first stage after repairing. All cases were followed up 10-18 months (mean, 13.5 months). In 11 cases of segmental bone sclerosis, the infection control time was 7-14 days (mean, 8.8 days); the bone healing time was 32-40 weeks (mean, 34.4 weeks); and the frequency of VSD was 3-6 times (mean, 4.5 times). In 12 cases of partial bone sclerosis, the infection control time was 7-12 days (mean, 8.3 days); the bone healing time was 24-31 weeks (mean, 27.3 weeks); and the frequency of VSD was 3-5 times (mean, 3.6 times). Infection recurred in 1 case, and the patient gave up the therapy. No infection recurrence was observed in the other patients. ConclusionThe VSD combined with open bone graft is an effective method for the treatment of tibial traumatic osteomyelitis.
Diabetic foot infection (DFI) is one of the main causes of hospitalized patients with diabetic foot. DFI should be diagnosed according to the clinical manifestations, and the severity of infection should be graded in time. Diabetic foot wounds are mostly chronic wounds, and there are many kinds of bacterial infections. The bacteria and antibiotics resistance will change with the progress of the disease. Bacterial biofilm is also one of the important causes of antibiotic resistance. Reasonable and timely surgical treatment combined with effective antibiotic treatment is an effective measure to deal with the challenge of DFI. On this basis, multidisciplinary cooperation will achieve the best clinical outcome.
Greater omentum was chosen to treat chronic osteomyelitis in 12 cases. The involved bones included cranium in 5, tibia and fibula in 4 and metatarsus in 3. After thorough debridement, all patients had partial defects of bone, skin and soft tissue. The defect was filled with vascularized autogenous greater omentum by anastomosing with the host vessels. Theskin defect was covered with medium-thickness skin graft. After 3～9 years follw-up, no recurrence of osteomyelitis and no abdominal symptoms were observed in 11 cases. The osteomyelitis recurred in 1 case at 4 months after operation and died of squamous carcinoma 1 year later. It was suggested that transfer of vascularizedautogenous greater omentum was valuable in treating chronic osteomyelitis.
Objective To probe the repair method and effect of freesegmented-fibula transplantation to treat chronic osteomyelitis complicated by long bone defect in tibia in the first intention. Methods From March 1996 to December 2003, 67 cases of chronic osteomyelitis complicated by long bone defect were reconstructed with vascularized fibula graft after the long inflammable bone and soft tissue focus were resected. Their age ranged from 8 to 42 years. The course of disease was 6 months to 8 years. There were 14 cases of hematogenous osteomyelitis and 53 cases of traumatic osteomyelitis. Of them, 18 cases complicated by fracture of fibula; 21 cases by defect of skin ( 2 cm×4 cm-4 cm×10 cm) and bone exposure;53 cases by pathological fracture and nonunion; and 46 cases by 1-3 fistula of osteomyelitis. The length of bone defect was from 8 cm to 22 cm(mean 12 cm), andthegermiculture results of all cases were positive. Forty-six cases were treated with vascularized fibula graft, the other 21 cases with the skin flap. The segmentedfibula was 10-28 cm, skin flap size was 4 cm×7 cm6 cm×12 cm. Results After a follow-up of 12-45 months, the healing rate of sinus was 93.5% while the 6.5% remainders healed by the second sinus cleaning-up. The graft bone healed after 4-6 months(mean 4.2 months) by X-ray examination. The limb inflammation was controlled after 2 weeks.All 21 skin flaps all survived and the function recovery of affectedlimb was 79% of normal limbs according to Enneking evaluation system, but 2 patients occurred secondary fracture. The act or process of augmenting of tibia under 18-year-old cases were sooner than those who were more than 18-year-old. Conclusion It is a choice to repair the chronic osteomyelitis complicated by longbone defect with vascularized fibula graft in the first intention. The operation to reconstruct long bone defect is a good method to control inflammation efficiently, shorten period of treatment and reduce the time of operation.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effectiveness of flap combined with induced membrane technique in treatment of post-traumatic tibial osteomyelitis with soft tissue defect. Methods A clinical data of 33 patients with post-traumatic tibial osteomyelitis with soft tissue defect who met the selection criteria between August 2015 and October 2018 was retrospectively analyzed. There were 21 males and 12 females. The age ranged from 19 to 70 years, with an average of 39 years. The osteomyelitis located in the upper 1/3 of tibia in 8 cases, in the middle 1/3 of tibia in 14 cases, and in the lower 1/3 of tibia in 11 cases. According to Cierny-Mader classification standard, 19 cases of osteomyelitis were type Ⅲ and 14 cases were type Ⅳ. The duration of osteomyelitis ranged from 2 months to 20 years (median, 3 months). In the first-stage operation, after radical debridement, the length of bone defect was 1.5-12.5 cm (mean, 5.0 cm) and the size of soft tissue defects ranged from 5 cm×4 cm to 15 cm×12 cm. Bone cement containing antibiotics was implanted into the bone defect and the personalized flap was used to repair the wound. After the wound healed at 6-8 weeks and the infection was controlled, bone grafting was performed to repair bone defects in the second-stage operation. Results The flaps survived completely after the first-stage operation in 29 cases. Partial necrosis of the flap occurred in 4 cases and healed after surgical dressing change. All the incisions healed by first intention after the second-stage operation. All patients were followed up 24-32 months (mean, 28 months). All the bone grafts healed after operation, and the radiographic healing time was 3-9 months (mean, 5 months). The clinical healing time was 4-14 months (mean, 8 months). There was no recurrence of osteomyelitis during follow-up. At last follow-up, according to Johner-Wruhs evaluation criteria, the limb function was excellent in 27 cases, good in 4 cases, and fair in 2 cases, with an excellent and good rate of 93.9%. Conclusion For the post-traumatic tibial osteomyelitis with soft tissue defect, the flap combined with induced membrane technique is a reliable and effective method and can effectively restore the function of lower limbs with satisfactory effectiveness.