Preoperative contaminated wound management using short-term negative pressure wound therapy with instillation

Background: The short-term application of negative pressure wound therapy with instillation and dwell time (NPWTi-d) enables the delivery of topical wound solutions, the solubilisation of debris and cleansing of the wound bed. The application of NPWTi-d may support the transition of the wound to a more manageable state and minimises the use of more invasive techniques. Method: In this case series, we describe the process of applying NPWTi-d early as part of a contaminated wound treatment plan. Results: The case series included 15 patients in the preoperative setting. Wound types included surgical dehiscence, hard-to-heal wounds, heel pressure ulcers, diabetic foot ulcers, a cat bite and an amputation left open. Normal saline or a 0.125% sodium hypochlorite solution were instilled and allowed to dwell for five minutes, followed by 15 minutes of continuous negative pressure at –125mmHg. NPWTi-d was continued for 4–36 hours, or until the operating room became available. After NPWTi-d, we observed a decreased amount of devitalised tissue in the wound bed and reduced oedema and erythema in the periwound area. Patient white blood cells also significantly decreased in all cases after NPWTi-d (p<0.001). Conclusion: Short-term use of NPWTi-d may be a useful option for supporting the surgical treatment of contaminated lower extremity wounds.

A PROSPECTIVE STUDY OF PREDICTORS FOR POST LAPAROTOMY ABDOMINAL WOUND DEHISCENCE

Introduction: Wound dehiscence or burst abdomen is a very serious post-operative complication which is associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. Despite the advances made in asepsis, antimicrobial drugs, sterilization and operative techniques- post-operative wound dehiscence continues to be a major threat. Aims And Objectives: 1. To nd the incidence of abdominal wound dehiscence following laparotomy in a tertiary care centre of Eastern India. 2. To evaluate the factors implicated and their contribution in abdominal wound dehiscence Methodology: This prospective single centre observational study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital on 100consenting patients undergoing both elective and emergency laparotomy..All the cases were followed up on postoperative days 1, 4, 7 and 10 or till discharge and further follow up was continued every 2 weeks till 4 weeks . Patients with wound dehiscence were evaluated by the investigators for the enlisted parameters which were ,age sex; BMI; comorbidities like anemia. hypoproteinemia; hypertension.jaundice,increased urea creatinine ,habit of smoking;presence of clean or contaminated wound and various other factors like time of surgery,use of steroids,ASA physical status and so on. Results: We found that wound dehiscence was signicantly more in male patients;patients with increased BMI,presence of anemia, hypoproteinemia, increased serum urea creatinine level. It was more in contaminated wound and patients with higher ASA physical status.But time taken for surgery type of surgery has no inuence on wound dehiscence in this study. Conclusion: Post laprotomy wound dehiscence depends on multiple factors.

A study of Microorganisms causing wound infections after Elective laparotomy

Any purulent discharge from a closed surgical incision, after surgery, together with signs of inflammation of the surrounding tissue should be considered as Post operative (post-op) wound infection. There are two types of wounds in elective laparotomy: clean and contaminated wound Objective: To find out most causative microorganism involved in post-op wound infection in elective laparotomy cases at the Children Hospital and The Institute of Child Health Sciences, Lahore Pakistan. Methods: It was a prospective observational study conducted on patients who developed wound infection after elective laparotomy. This study was conducted in the surgical Units I and II of Children Hospital Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan. The duration of the study was 11 months from January 2019 to November 2019. 150 patients were included in this study. Data was collected by convenient sampling technique. It was a hospital-based study in which patients from both genders were included. Data was obtained by a questionnaire. Patients were asked for wound condition and surgery details were taken to find out the reasons of wound infection. The data selected was analyzed using SPSS version 21.0. Results: Out of total 150 patients who underwent elective laparotomy, 40% patients were identified with Escherichia Coli, 13.3% patients identified with Pseudomonas species, 13.3% patients had klebsiella, 6.7% patients had Pseudomonas Florescence, 6.7% people had Acinetobacter, 6.7% had Staphylococcus aureus, 13.3% did not show any growth. Conclusions: It was concluded that most abundant microorganism isolated from patients who underwent elective laparotomy was Escherichia coli. The most common reasons for wound infection were increase in number of surgeons and increase in duration of illness.

A prospective study of post-operative surgical site infections after abdominal surgeries

Background: Surgical site infections have plagued surgeons since time immemorial. There is significant morbidity and mortality associated with surgical site infections. In this study we tried to identify the incidence, various patient and procedure related factors, which could have led to SSIs, the various organism associated with the SSIs and their pattern of sensitivity and resistance to various antibiotics.Methods: This study was conducted in the department of general surgery, Gandhi medical college and Hamidia hospital Bhopal. In this prospective study, we included all patients more than 12 years of age undergoing abdominal surgeries between 2018-2020. Patient data was recorded in a case recording form and all patients were examined post-operatively for soakage along with culture and antibiotic testing.Results: A total of 299 patients were included. Overall incidence of SSI was 23.07%, elective surgeries showed 19.5% incidence and elective showed 26.08% incidence. Higher incidence of SSI was found in, male patients (25.9%), contaminated and dirty surgeries, higher ASA scores, smokers, alcoholics diabetics, anaemics, and malnourished patients. E. coli and klebsiella were the most common organisms isolated in both elective and emergency setting. Organisms isolated were highly sensitive to colistin, meropenem, imipenem, gentamicin and amikacin. Amoxycillin, ceftriaxone, doxycycline were fairly resistant in the current study.Conclusions: Modifiable risk factors like smoking, alcoholism, anaemia, malnourishment, contaminated wound class and emergency surgeries should be addressed systematically along with judicious use of antibiotics and tailoring then according to culture profile whenever possible is needed to reduce SSI rate.

Pediatric surgical site infection (SSI) following ambulatory surgery: Incidence, risk factors and patient outcomes

Background: Inpatient surgical site infections (SSIs) cause morbidity in children. The SSI rate among pediatric ambulatory surgery patients is less clear. To fill this gap, we conducted a multiple-institution, retrospective epidemiologic study to identify incidence, risk factors, and outcomes. Methods: We identified patients aged <22 years with ambulatory visits between October 2010 and September 2015 via electronic queries at 3 medical centers. We performed sample chart reviews to confirm ambulatory surgery and adjudicate SSIs. Weighted Poisson incidence rates were calculated. Separately, we used case–control methodology using multivariate backward logistical regression to assess risk-factor association with SSI. Results: In total, 65,056 patients were identified by queries, and we performed complete chart reviews for 13,795 patients; we identified 45 SSIs following ambulatory surgery. The weighted SSI incidence following pediatric ambulatory surgery was 2.00 SSI per 1,000 ambulatory surgeries (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.37–3.00). Integumentary surgeries had the highest weighted SSI incidence, 3.24 per 1,000 ambulatory surgeries (95% CI, 0.32–12). The following variables carried significantly increased odds of infection: clean contaminated or contaminated wound class compared to clean (odds ratio [OR], 9.8; 95% CI, 2.0–48), other insurance type compared to private (OR, 4.0; 95% CI, 1.6–9.8), and surgery on weekend day compared to weekday (OR, 30; 95% CI, 2.9–315). Of the 45 instances of SSI following pediatric ambulatory surgery, 40% of patients were admitted to the hospital and 36% required a new operative procedure or bedside incision and drainage. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that morbidity is associated with SSI following ambulatory surgery in children, and we also identified possible targets for intervention.

Facial subcutaneous emphysema due to rectum injury after pelvic fracture

A 35-year old dockworker sustained a pelvic injury when he was caught by a large loading clamshell grab. Primary survey revealed an open book pelvic fracture with soft tissue defects of the left thigh and groin. CT scanning of the thorax and abdomen did not reveal significant additional injuries. Partly due to patient’s haemodynamical instability, osteosynthesis of the pelvic fracture was performed immediately after resuscitation, whereby the severely contaminated wound of the thigh was debrided and irrigated. The following days, progressive facial subcutaneous emphysema developed, but patient remained clinically stable. Several specialists were consulted, but did not find a cause. At day 7, a second surgery was planned to treat a pelvic surgical wound infection. Unexpectedly, we found faecal contamination in the pelvic surgical wound. The consulted gastro/intestinal-surgeon performed a laparoscopic colostomy for a rectal laceration. Awareness for bowel injuries with open pelvic fracture should be high, also when subcutaneous emphysema is found remotely.

Aeromonas hydrophilia-infected nonunion of a closed tibial fracture in a healthy adolescent: A case report

Aeromonas hydrophilia can cause soft tissue infection in both immunocompromised and healthy persons. A healthy 15-year-old adolescent fell into a ditch after a scooter accident and sustained a right distal tibial shaft closed fracture, a right femoral shaft closed fracture, and a dirty laceration over the medial aspect of the distal thigh above the right knee. After empiric antibiotics and radical debridement of the contaminated wound, a femoral interlocking nail and tibial external fixator were applied. However, acute osteomyelitis later presented in his femur and tibia, and Aeromonas hydrophilia grew in cultures from the knee wound and the fracture sites. During the follow-up, his tibia became an infected nonunion, and was successfully treated with the induced membrane technique. In an otherwise healthy patient with a closed fracture, Aeromonas hydrophilia can cause acute osteomyelitis and necrotizing fasciitis by spreading from a nearby contaminated wound. Exposure to water is a risk factor for Aeromonas hydrophilia infection.

Negative pressure wound therapy does not diminish efficacy of topical antibiotic powder in a preclinical contaminated wound model

Aims High-energy injuries can result in multiple complications, the most prevalent being infection. Vancomycin powder has been used with increasing frequency in orthopaedic trauma given its success in reducing infection following spine surgery. Additionally, large, traumatic injuries require wound coverage and management by dressings such as negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT). NPWT has been shown to decrease the ability of antibiotic cement beads to reduce infection, but its effect on antibiotic powder is not known. The goal of this study was to determine if NPWT reduces the efficacy of topically applied antibiotic powder. Methods Complex musculoskeletal wounds were created in goats and inoculated with a strain of Staphylococcus aureus modified to emit light. Six hours after contaminating the wounds, imaging, irrigation, and debridement and treatment application were performed. Animals received either vancomycin powder with a wound pouch dressing or vancomycin powder with NPWT. Results There were no differences in eradication of bacteria when vancomycin powder was used in combination with NPWT (4.5% of baseline) compared to vancomycin powder with a wound pouch dressing (1.7% of baseline) (p = 0.986), even though approximately 50% of the vancomycin was recovered in the NPWT exudate canister. Conclusion The antimicrobial efficacy of the vancomycin powder was not diminished by the application of NPWT. These topical and locally applied therapies are potentially effective tools that can provide quick, simple treatments to prevent infection while providing coverage. By reducing the occurrence of infection, the recovery is shortened, leading to an overall improvement in quality of life. Cite this article: Bone Joint Res 2021;10(2):149–155.

Case Report of a Nipple Amputation After a Horse Bite

Horse related injuries include falling from a horse, being stepped on by a horse, kicks, or bites. Bites are rare and often associated with fatalities. We present a case of a 41-year-old healthy female who suffered a complete amputation of her right nipple and abrasion of the areola following a horse bite. We managed the nipple injury as a full-thickness skin graft, similar to that of a compromised nipple in a reduction mammaplasty or mastopexy case. Barring a lack of projection and minor hypopigmentation, the nipple had normal sensation with no scar contracture. Overall, the patient was happy with her final outcome. With a healthy, minimally contaminated wound bed, and lack of poor wound healing risk factors, we believe that treating a nipple amputation as a full thickness skin graft in the emergency setting results in aesthetic outcomes, sensation, and patient satisfaction comparable if not superior to other means of nipple reconstruction in adults.