Prevention of Pin Tract Infections in External Fixation – A Review Article

Purpose: Many factors are responsible for the prevalence of pin tract infections in external fixation. Different authors' reports show great variance, with infection rates ranging from 3% - 80%. Such clashing data indicate physicians' differences of opinion in what constitutes a pin tract infection. This paper critically evaluates the main strategies, approaches, and outcomes for preventing pin tract infections in external fixation by systematically reviewing the literature. Materials and Methods: This narrative review conducted a comprehensive search on PubMed and Web of Science for studies addressing pin tract infection prevention, covering literature from the databases' inception until February 20, 2025. Results: Literature shows that infection prevention should be done throughout all stages of external fixation placement, from the pre- and peri-operative period to the postoperative period prophylaxis. Conclusion: Taking appropriate measures for wound care allows for proper osteointegration, prevents bacterial adhesion and avoids osteomyelitis and premature pin removal. At this time, there is no consensus on which method of preventing biofilm formation and pin site infection yields the most favorable outcome.