Background: This study aimed to investigate incidence of surgical site infection (SSI) following the surgery of intra-articular fractures of distal femur.
Methods: Between July 2014 and December 2017, inpatient medical records of consecutive patients who had intra-articular fractures of distal femur treated by open reduction and plate/screw fixation were inquired to identify whether they had a SSI. After discharge, patients who had a SSI and were readmitted for treatment of SSI were also allocated to the case group. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to determine whether some clinical factors were independently associated with SSI, after adjustment for confounding variables.
Results: During the study period, 434 patients were evaluated and 21 patients were confirmed to develop a SSI, indicating the accumulated incidence of 4.8% within 1 year. A total of six deep and 15 superficial SSIs were identified, with respective incidence being 1.4% and 3.4%. The most common causative pathogen was Staphylococcus aureus (8, 50.0%), followed by mixed bacteria (5, 31.3%). Open fracture, prolonged surgical duration, increased body mass index and current smoking were identified as independent risk factors for development of SSI (P < 0.05).
Conclusions: It should be noted that it was likely difficult to modify these risk factors, but they do prove useful for preoperative counselling of patients and their relatives regarding their own risk profile of SSI, and the perioperative medical optimization.
Keywords: femoral fracture; intra-articular fracture; risk factor; surgical site infection.
© 2019 Royal Australasian College of Surgeons.