International Collaboration of Orthopaedic Nursing (ICON) CLINICAL
	Clinical Information    Pin Site Care    Picture courtesy of D.Haines at Ilizarov.org.uk  The management of skeletal pin sites (largely for patients with external fixators) represents a major dilemma for orthopaedic nurses all over the world. Infection rates are high and there is very little evidence on which to base practice. A recent systematic review (Temple & Santy 2204) found only one piece of reliable evidence. This page will endeavour to keep abreast of current developments in knowledge and research in this problematic field.  If you would like to comment on any issue related to pin site care please email orthopaedicnursing@fsmail.net  Recent Publications  Patterson, M.M. (2005) Multicenter Pin Care Study. Orthopaedic Nursing. 24 (5) 349-360.  Davies, R. Holt, N Nayagam, S (2005) The care of pin sites with external fixation. J Bone Joint Surg Br 2005 May;87(5):716-9.  Baird Holmes, S. Brown, S.J. Pin Site Care Expert Panel (2005) Skeletal Pin Site Care. National Association of Orthopaedic Nurses. Guidelines for Orthopaedic Nursing. Orthopaedic Nursing 24 (2) March/April. 99-107  Henley, N. Carlson, D. Kaehr, D Clements, B. (2004). Air Embolism Associated with irrigation of external fixator pin sites with hydrogen peroxide. Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery (American) 86 (4) 821-2  Marsh JL (2004) Weekly pin-site care was as effective as daily care in patients with external fixation. Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (American), 2004 86A (8): 1835   Santy J (2004) A critical review of two research papers on skeletal pin site care.  Journal of Orthopaedic Nursing. Aug; 8(3): 132-5  Temple J, Santy J. (2004) Pin site care for preventing infections associated with external bone fixators and pins. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2004, Issue 1.  Last updated 20th May 2008