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Fracture-related infection (FRI) is common and often diagnosed late.Accurate diagnosis is the beginning of effective treatment.Diagnosis can be difficult, particularly when there are no outward signs of infection.The new FRI definition, together with clear protocols for nuclear imaging, microbiological culture and histological analysis, should allow much better study design and a clearer understanding of infected fractures.In recent years, there has been a new focus on defining FRI and avoiding non-specific, poorly targeted treatment. Previous studies on FRI have often failed to define infection precisely and so are of limited value. This review highlights the essential principles of making the diagnosis and how clinical signs, serum tests, imaging, microbiology, molecular biology and histology all contribute to the diagnostic pathway. Cite this article: <i>EFORT Open Rev</i> 2020;5:614-619. DOI: 10.1302/2058-5241.5.190072.

Original publication

DOI

10.1302/2058-5241.5.190072

Type

Journal article

Journal

EFORT open reviews

Publication Date

26/10/2020

Volume

5

Pages

614 - 619

Addresses

The Oxford Bone Infection Unit, Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre, Oxford University Hospitals, Oxford, UK.