Work

Pretibial abscess associated with instrumentation-specific infection after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: A case report

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Pretibial abscess is a rare but serious complication after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. We report six cases of pretibial abscesses from 364 ACL reconstructions at our center between January 2022 and June 2023. Patients presented with poor wound healing, sinus tract formation, and magnetic resonance imaging showed fluid accumulation and bone marrow edema in the tibial tunnel but no deep infection. Bacterial cultures identified Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Burkholderia cepacia. Further investigation found contamination in the hexagonal reamers used for screw implantation, which was likely the infection source. This report highlights the importance of investigating instrument-specific infections when infection rates unexpectedly rise. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level V.

Source: Journal of ISAKOS Joint Disorders & Orthopaedic Sports Medicine

DOI: 10.1016/j.jisako.2025.100893

Authors: Xian Zhang, Cong Qiao, Jiang Zheng, Bo Ren

Institutions: Xi'an Honghui Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University

Language: English

Topic: Orthopedic Infections and Treatments

Subfield: Surgery

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,000