Affiliation:
1. Orthopaedic & Trauma Unit, Department of Traslational Biomedicine and Neuroscience (DiBraiN), School of Medicine, University of Bari Aldo Moro, AOU Consorziale “Policlinico”, 70124 Bari, Italy
Abstract
Fracture-related infections (FRIs), as shown in the literature, represent one of the main complications of trauma surgery. They are a consequence of an implant-related “biofilm” formation and are a challenge for surgeons, microbiologists, and infectious disease specialists. For a correct diagnosis, careful clinical evaluation, to look for signs/symptoms attributable to an infectious condition, and instrumental examinations, to highlight the site of infection, its extent, and its severity, are both essential. Unfortunately, due to the lack of data in the literature, there is no consensus about guidelines on the diagnosis and treatment of FRIs. The purpose of this study is to present an up-to-date concept evaluation of the diagnostic procedures and treatment options available in the management of fracture-related infections.