Subcutaneous emphysema of the leg after hardware removal and bone allografting for infected non-union of the distal femur
Abstract Background Infected non-unions of the supracondylar region of the femur are uncommon. Even though hardware removal is a common procedure, it may lead to complications, including neurovascular injury, refracture, worsening pain or recurrence of deformity. Case presentation We report on a mal...
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Language: | English |
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BMC
2017-08-01
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Series: | BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders |
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Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12891-017-1706-y |
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author | Vincenzo Denaro Umile Giuseppe Longo Giuseppe Salvatore Vincenzo Candela Nicola Maffulli |
author_facet | Vincenzo Denaro Umile Giuseppe Longo Giuseppe Salvatore Vincenzo Candela Nicola Maffulli |
author_sort | Vincenzo Denaro |
collection | DOAJ |
description | Abstract Background Infected non-unions of the supracondylar region of the femur are uncommon. Even though hardware removal is a common procedure, it may lead to complications, including neurovascular injury, refracture, worsening pain or recurrence of deformity. Case presentation We report on a male who developed subcutaneous emphysema of the leg after hardware removal and bone allografting for an infected non-union of the distal femur. He was managed by debridement of the surgical wound, antibiotic therapy, multiple fasciotomies, and application of a VAC (vacuum-assisted closure) system. Conclusions Although subcutaneous emphysema of the leg after hardware removal and bone allografting for infected non-union of the distal femur is extremely rare, the potential life treating complications and their potential impact on the functional status of the patient have to be taken into consideration when counseling patients about this procedure. Even when it is not possible to identify a bacterial pathogen responsible for the subcutaneous emphysema of the leg, prompt intervention may save the limb of the patient. |
first_indexed | 2024-12-21T13:17:42Z |
format | Article |
id | doaj.art-dc94b2ce7ef24675ae26acd7a81f4dd5 |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 1471-2474 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-12-21T13:17:42Z |
publishDate | 2017-08-01 |
publisher | BMC |
record_format | Article |
series | BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders |
spelling | doaj.art-dc94b2ce7ef24675ae26acd7a81f4dd52022-12-21T19:02:41ZengBMCBMC Musculoskeletal Disorders1471-24742017-08-011811610.1186/s12891-017-1706-ySubcutaneous emphysema of the leg after hardware removal and bone allografting for infected non-union of the distal femurVincenzo Denaro0Umile Giuseppe Longo1Giuseppe Salvatore2Vincenzo Candela3Nicola Maffulli4Department of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, Campus Bio-Medico UniversityDepartment of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, Campus Bio-Medico UniversityDepartment of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, Campus Bio-Medico UniversityDepartment of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, Campus Bio-Medico UniversityCentre for Sports and Exercise Medicine, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Mile End HospitalAbstract Background Infected non-unions of the supracondylar region of the femur are uncommon. Even though hardware removal is a common procedure, it may lead to complications, including neurovascular injury, refracture, worsening pain or recurrence of deformity. Case presentation We report on a male who developed subcutaneous emphysema of the leg after hardware removal and bone allografting for an infected non-union of the distal femur. He was managed by debridement of the surgical wound, antibiotic therapy, multiple fasciotomies, and application of a VAC (vacuum-assisted closure) system. Conclusions Although subcutaneous emphysema of the leg after hardware removal and bone allografting for infected non-union of the distal femur is extremely rare, the potential life treating complications and their potential impact on the functional status of the patient have to be taken into consideration when counseling patients about this procedure. Even when it is not possible to identify a bacterial pathogen responsible for the subcutaneous emphysema of the leg, prompt intervention may save the limb of the patient.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12891-017-1706-yGangreneFractureHardware removalFemur |
spellingShingle | Vincenzo Denaro Umile Giuseppe Longo Giuseppe Salvatore Vincenzo Candela Nicola Maffulli Subcutaneous emphysema of the leg after hardware removal and bone allografting for infected non-union of the distal femur BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders Gangrene Fracture Hardware removal Femur |
title | Subcutaneous emphysema of the leg after hardware removal and bone allografting for infected non-union of the distal femur |
title_full | Subcutaneous emphysema of the leg after hardware removal and bone allografting for infected non-union of the distal femur |
title_fullStr | Subcutaneous emphysema of the leg after hardware removal and bone allografting for infected non-union of the distal femur |
title_full_unstemmed | Subcutaneous emphysema of the leg after hardware removal and bone allografting for infected non-union of the distal femur |
title_short | Subcutaneous emphysema of the leg after hardware removal and bone allografting for infected non-union of the distal femur |
title_sort | subcutaneous emphysema of the leg after hardware removal and bone allografting for infected non union of the distal femur |
topic | Gangrene Fracture Hardware removal Femur |
url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12891-017-1706-y |
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