[Ankle osteosynthesis infection: vacuum therapy as the treatment of choice].

BACKGROUND

Should osteosynthesis infection occur after ankle fractures in patients with microangiopathy, the infection needs to be cured quickly and safely to protect implants, bone, and tendons. Vacuum therapy (TNP) provides a perfect treatment plan that keeps the inpatient time low whilst ensuring high patient comfort.

METHODS AND PATIENTS: Four angiopathic patients with deep wound infection after ankle osteosynthesis were treated. At admission, loss of stability and spread of the infection were the immediate risks. To prevent this, we treated the patients with vacuum therapy after initial debridement until skin cover was achieved.

RESULTS

In all cases stability was secured and after 2 dressing changes, the swabs were sterile. The inpatient time was 13 days; overall vacuum therapy time was 59 days. Patient satisfaction was high.

DISCUSSION: Vacuum therapy is a perfect strategy after surgical debridement and before secondary mesh grafting. It protects the stability of the bone and open-lying delicate structures in patients with infected osteosynthesis of the ankle and angiopathy and offers an easy, safe, and successful treatment path with a short inpatient time.