Postoperative fever in pediatric orthopaedic patients.
Fever in hospitalized patients causes a great deal of concern. Its value in predicting complications, however, is questionable. For this reason, a retrospective analysis was performed on 200 records of children's orthopaedic admissions. Demographic data, would status, fever work-up, and daily peak temperatures were recorded. There were 174 patients who underwent surgical procedures and 26 patients who did not have surgery. Seventy-three percent (127/174) of the surgical patients had postoperative fever [temperature > 38 degrees C (100.4 degrees F)] Twenty-seven percent of the nonsurgical patients had fever. There were only three acute complications--one pneumonia and two wound infections. Complications were easily diagnosed by clinical means. In postoperative patients, the accuracy in predicting complications was 28%. Postoperative fever is a poor predictor of complications, and, therefore, should not delay discharge or indicate investigation for sepsis.
Angel
J D
JD
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock.
Blasier
R D
RD
Allison
R
R
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D010351:Patient Discharge; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies