Abstract

Background: Metal allergy is frequently seen. Orthopedic metal implants, such as external fixators or other stainless implants, contain chromium, nickel, and molybdenum, which can cause type IV hypersensitivity.
Case summary: A patient diagnosed with open comminuted tibiofibular fracture was treated with external fixation surgery, and she showed contact dermatitis and eczema-like symptoms 2 weeks postoperatively. She was then diagnosed as allergic to several metals by patch test and subsequently treated with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), both orally and externally for 1 month. TCM treatment significantly alleviated the hypersensitive symptoms and made the patient bear the external fixator for 2 months until bone union.
Conclusion: TCM therapy may be an effective treatment for external fixation-induced metal allergy and contact dermatitis.

*YSQ and YD contributed equally to this work and share the first authorship

Author Details

Authors

• Yansong Qi¹*
• Yi Ding^{2, 3}*
• Baoge Liu³
• Yongsheng Xu¹

Departments

• ¹ Department of Orthopedics, Inner Mongolia People’s Hospital, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia,
• ² Department of Orthopedics, General Hospital of Chinese People’s Armed Police Forces (CAPF), and
• ³ Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China

Address

Baoge Liu
Department of Orthopedic Surgery
Beijing Tiantan Hospital
Capital Medical University
No. 119 South 4th Ring West Road,
Fengtai District, Beijing, 10070, China
and
Yongsheng Xu
Department of Orthopedics
Inner Mongolia People’s Hospital
No. 20, Zhao Wu Da Road, Saihan District,
Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, 010017, China
Email: [email protected] and [email protected]

Citation