Volume 13 | Issue 4 | Oct-Dec 2018 | Page 13-17 | Jaiwardhan P Bhosale, Shantanu S Deshpande
Authers: Jaiwardhan P Bhosale [1], Shantanu S Deshpande [1].
[1] Bharati Vidyapeth Medical College and Deemed University, Pune
Address for correspondence:
Address of Correspondence
Dr. Shantanu S. Deshpande
‘Amor’, Bungalow no 9. Plot 47. Atithya Greens Society.
Bavdhan, Pune-411021
E-mail address: desh75@gmail.com.
Abstract
Background: The focus of this study was to assess the role of IL-6, ESR, CRP and WBC count as markers of infection in patients with lower limb fractures.
Materials & Methods: 137 patients with lower limb fractures presenting within 24 hrs after injury and requiring operative intervention were included in our study. Serum IL-6, ESR, CRP and WBC count were measured pre-operatively on admission, on postoperative day 2 and on day of suture removal. An additional sample was also taken from patients who showed signs of infection post-operatively. The trends of these markers were measured and their co-relation with each other was analysed. Mann-Whitney U test was used to identify significant difference between patients with and without infection.
Results: The follow-op 37 patients was lost post-operatively and so study subjects were reduced to 100. 16 out of 100 patients developed wound infection post-operatively. The minimum, maximum and mean values of IL-6, CRP, ESR and WBC count were calculated in all patients. There was significant difference in post-op day 2 serum CRP levels (p=0.002) between infected and non-infected patients however, no such significant difference was seen in IL-6, ESR and WBC count. Significant difference was observed in serum ESR levels on day of suture removal (p=0.004) between infected and non-infected patients but no such significant difference was seen between IL-6, WBC count and CRP. IL-6 levels returned to normal values quicker as compared to other markers after control of infection on day of suture removal.
Conclusions: CRP is an excellent marker for early diagnosis of infection whereas, IL-6 is a better marker to monitor the course of infection in patients with lower limb fractures.
Keywords: IL-6, CRP, fractures, infection.
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| How to Cite this article: Bhosale JP, Deshpande S. CRP for diagnosis and IL-6 for monitoring of infection in lower limb fracture patients. Journal of Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery Oct-Dec 2018;13(4): 13-17. |