Effectiveness of Drawtex hydroconductive dressing in treatment of early implantation-associated infection and soft tissue defect after internal fixation of tibial fracture

Abstract

To investigate the feasibility of Drawtex hydroconductive dressing in treatment of early implantation-associated infection and soft tissue defect after internal fixation of tibial fracture. Thirty-six New Zealand rabbits were used to prepare the model of early implantation-associated infection after internal fixation of tibial fracture, and randomly divided into 3 groups ( n=12) . The infected wounds were covered with Drawtex hydroconductive dressing (group A), chitosan solution gauze (group B), and normal saline gauze (group C), respectively. The dressing was changed every 2 days. X-ray films were performed at 1, 14, and 21 days. The gross observation, microbiological evaluation, and histological observation were done at 21 days. There was no significant difference in the wound grading according to the James' grading criteria between groups at 21 days ( χ2=3.713, P=0.156). X-ray films showed no bone destruction in all groups at 1 day; and there was no significant difference in radiographic scores between groups ( P>0.05). At 14 days, the mild osteolysis was observed in group B; the radiographic score was significantly lower in groups A and C than in group B ( P<0.05), but there was no significant difference between groups A and C ( P>0.05). At 21 days, the osteolysis and osteomyelitis were observed in groups B and C; the radiographic score was significantly lower in group A than in groups B and C ( P<0.05), but there was no significant difference between groups B and C ( P>0.05). Also, the microorganism in bone tissue of group A was less than that of groups B and C ( P<0.05); and the difference between group B and group C was not significant ( P>0.05). Histological observation showed the mild inflammatory cell infiltration in group A and many inflammatory cells in groups B and C. The Smeltzer histological score was significant lower in group A than in groups B and C ( P<0.05); and there was no significant difference between groups B and C ( P>0.05). Drawtex hydroconductive dressing can be used for the implantation-associated infection after tibial fracture internal fixation. And the effectiveness of Drawtex hydroconductive dressing is better than that of chitosan solution gauze and normal saline gauze.