Background: This study investigates the effect of malnutrition, defined by hypoalbuminemia, on rates of complication, readmission, reoperation, and mortality following midfoot, hindfoot, or ankle fusion.
Methods: The National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database was queried from 2005 to 2019 to identify 500 patients who underwent midfoot (n = 233), hindfoot (n = 261), or ankle (n = 117) fusion. Patients were stratified into normal (n = 452) or low (n = 48) albumin group, which was defined by preoperative serum albumin level <3.5 g/dL. Demographics, medical comorbidities, hospital length of stay (LOS), and 30-day complication, readmission, and reoperation rates were compared between groups. The mean age of the cohort was 58.7 (range, 21-89) years.
Results: Hypoalbuminemia patients were significantly more likely to have diabetes (P < .001), be on dialysis (P < .001), and be functionally dependent (P < .001). The LOS was significantly greater among the low albumin group (P < .001). The hypoalbuminemia cohort also exhibited a significantly increased likelihood of superficial infection (P = .048). Readmission (P = .389) and reoperation (P = .611) rates did not differ between the groups.
Conclusion: This study shows that malnourished patients have an increased risk of superficial infection following foot and ankle fusions but are not at an increased risk of readmission or reoperation, suggesting that low albumin confers an elevated risk of surgical site infection.
Levels of evidence: Level III, Retrospective cohort study.
Keywords: albumin; ankle fusion; hindfoot fusion; hypoalbuminemia; midfoot fusion.