title: Treatment of post-operative infections following proximal femoral fractures: our institutional experience.
abstract: Proximal femoral fractures (PFFs) are a major health concern in the elderly population. Improvements made in implants and surgical techniques resulted in faster rehabilitation and shorter length of hospital stay. Despite this, the reduced physiological reserve, associated co-morbidities and polypharmacy intake of the elderly population put them at high risk of postoperative complications particularly of infectious origin. Out of 10061 patients with proximal femoral fractures 105 (1.05%) developed surgical site infection; 76 (72%) infections occurred in patients who had sustained intracapsular (IC) fractures with the remaining 29 (28%) infections occurring in patients with extracapsular (EC) neck of femur fractures. The median number of additional surgical debridements was 2 (range 1-7). MRSA was isolated in 49 (47%) of the cases; 38 patients (36%) ultimately underwent a Girdlestone's excisional arthroplasty. Mortality at 30 days and 3 months was 10% and 31%, respectively. It was noted that post-operative hip infection predisposed to a prolonged length of stay in the acute unit and subsequently to a more dependent destination after discharge.
authors.affiliation: Academic Department of Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery, Leeds General Infirmary, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Theodorides
authors.forename: T C B
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Pollard
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fishlock
authors.forename: G I
authors.initials: GI
authors.lastname: Mataliotakis
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kelley
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Thakar
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Willett
authors.forename: P V
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Giannoudis
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005264:Femoral Fractures / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery*; D005265:Femoral Neck Fractures / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006620:Hip Fractures / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D012086:Reoperation; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents