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

Objective: 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.

Methods: 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 ( =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.

Results: There was no significant difference in the wound grading according to the James' grading criteria between groups at 21 days ( =3.713, =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 ( >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 ( <0.05), but there was no significant difference between groups A and C ( >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 ( <0.05), but there was no significant difference between groups B and C ( >0.05). Also, the microorganism in bone tissue of group A was less than that of groups B and C ( <0.05); and the difference between group B and group C was not significant ( >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 ( <0.05); and there was no significant difference between groups B and C ( >0.05).

Conclusion: 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.