THE MANAGEMENT OF PIN-CARE IN EXTERNAL FIXATION TECHNIQUE: POVIDONEIODINE VERSUS SODIUM HYPOCHLORITE 0,05% (AMUKINA-MED®) MEDICATIONS

Purpose:Currently, there is no universal approach to pin-site care for preventing infection. The medication of these pins is essential for obtaining good external fixation results. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the results obtained after pins were medicated with two different disinfectants: povidone-iodine (10%) and sodium hypochlorite 0,05% (Amukina-med®).Methods:237 pins of 40 patients treated with Hoffmann II external fixation have been analyzed in our study. The average age was 41.3 (ranging from 19-71). All pins were inserted by hand pre-drilling together with continuous irrigation with cold saline to reduce the risk of thermal necrosis. Patients were divided into 2 groups consisting of 20 patients each: in group A, 109 pins were medicated with povidone-iodine and in group B, 128 pins were medicated with sodium hypochlorite 0,05%.Results:24 pins (22%) medicated with povidone-iodine became infected, as well as 13 pins (10,1%) medicated with sodium hypochlorite. A few pins mobilized: 13 in group A and 6 in group B. In all cases, infections were resolved with oral antibiotic therapy. Conclusions:Our study showed that medication with sodium hypochlorite 0,05% reduced the percentage of pin-tract infection and mobilization with respect to povidone-iodine, demonstrated by significant statistical evidence (Chi-square's test: p<0.05).