Risk factors for surgical site infection following operative ankle fracture fixation.
BACKGROUND
Ankle fracture is a common injury and there is an increasingly greater emphasis on operative fixation.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of the study was to determine the complication rate in this cohort of patients and, in doing so, determine risk factors which predispose to surgical site infection.


METHODS
A prospective cohort study was performed at a tertiary referral trauma center examining risk factors for surgical site infection in operatively treated ankle fractures.


RESULTS
Univariate and multivariate analysis was performed. Female gender and advancing age were determined to be the risk factors in univariate analysis. Drain usage and peri-operative pyrexia were found to be significant for infection in multivariate analysis.


CONCLUSIONS
This study allows surgeons to identify those at increased risk of infection and counsel them appropriately. It also allows for a high level of vigilance with regard to soft tissue handling intra-operatively in this higher risk group.
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, AMNCH, Dublin, Tallaght, 24, Ireland. endagkelly@gmail.com
E G
EG
Kelly
J P
JP
Cashman
P J
PJ
Groarke
S F
SF
Morris
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D064386:Ankle Fractures; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005592:Fracture Fixation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult