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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Main Authors: Vincenzo Denaro, Umile Giuseppe Longo, Giuseppe Salvatore, Vincenzo Candela, Nicola Maffulli
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2017-08-01
Series:BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders
Subjects:
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.
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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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