Maratib Ali S M Tariq, Khalid Malik, Muhammad Haroon Chohan, Nauman Hussain, Imran Ahmed.
Comparison of fine pin and half pin infection in advance hybrid ilizarov external fixator.
J Pak Orthop Assoc Jan ;22(1):35-7.

OBJECTIVE: To find out whether pin site infection in advance Ilizarov ring fixator was more at fine sites (K wires) or at half pin sites (Schanz screw). STUDY DESIGN: Descriptive study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Civil Hospital Karachi Orthopaedic unit I & II between April 2006 to March 2008. Material & METHODS: Between April 2006 and March 2008, 40 patients had advance Hybrid Ilizarov fixator applied for infected non-union and gap non-union of tibia, post poliomyelitis residual deformity, neglected TEV and Intra-articular fractures of upper and lower tibia. All pin sites infections were recorded, pus swabs were sent for culture and sensitivity and necessary action was taken. RESULTS: Out of 40 patients 29 patients (72.5%) developed pin site infection. 91 (10.8%) K wires sites developed infection and out of these 77 (09.14%) had superficial infection and 14 (1.66%) had deep infection. 13 (07.1%) Schanz screw sites had infection and out of these 11 (06.01%) were superficial and 02 (01.09%) were deep infection. Most common infecting organism was staph aureus (75.86%). Other infecting organisms were pseudomonas (13.79%), H. Influenza (06.89%, Staph Epidermidis (03.44%). CONCLUSION: In Ilizarov ring fixator fine pin sites infection is far more common than at half pin sites. Half pins give more stability to frame, causes less surgical complication and are easy to insert. Therefore we recommend at least 01 half pin should be used in each ring and two schanz screws at proximal ring of tibia.

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