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Case Reports and Series| Volume 56, ISSUE 5, P1099-1103, September 2017

Staged Treatment of Infected Tibiotalar Fusion Using a Combination Antibiotic Spacer and Antibiotic-Coated Intramedullary Nail

  • Justin Miller
    Affiliations
    Resident, Division of Orthopaedic Trauma and Complex Adult Reconstruction, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Jersey City Medical Center - RWJBarnabas Health, Jersey City, NJ
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  • Victor Hoang
    Affiliations
    Medical Student, Division of Orthopaedic Trauma and Complex Adult Reconstruction, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Jersey City Medical Center - RWJBarnabas Health, Jersey City, NJ
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  • Richard S. Yoon
    Affiliations
    Director of Orthopaedic Research, Division of Orthopaedic Trauma and Complex Adult Reconstruction, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Jersey City Medical Center - RWJBarnabas Health, Jersey City, NJ
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  • Frank A. Liporace
    Correspondence
    Address correspondence to: Frank A. Liporace, MD, Chairman, Division of Orthopaedic Trauma and Complex Adult Reconstruction, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Jersey City Medical Center - RWJBarnabas Health, 355 Grand Street, Jersey City, NJ 07302.
    Affiliations
    Chairman, Division of Orthopaedic Trauma and Complex Adult Reconstruction, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Jersey City Medical Center - RWJBarnabas Health, Jersey City, NJ
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      Abstract

      Pilon fractures are notoriously difficult injuries to treat. The current published data on salvage procedures after failed pilon fractures includes both total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) and tibiotalar fusion, each with its own specific indications. However, no acceptable treatment algorithm addressing the complications of these limb salvage procedures is available. We present the case of a 23-year-old patient, who sustained a complex pilon fracture after a motor vehicle accident. The patient was referred to our institution after an initial fixation attempt, followed by subsequent failed TAA, which was complicated by an infected fusion attempt. We describe a staged treatment approach to clearing the infection and obtaining the final fusion goals.

      Level of Clinical Evidence

      Keywords

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