title: Surgical site infection after open reduction and internal fixation of tibial plateau fractures.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to identify risk factors for surgical site infections and to quantify the contribution of independent risk factors to the probability of developing infection after definitive fixation of tibial plateau fractures in adult patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective analysis was performed at a level I trauma center between January 2004 and December 2010. Data were collected from a review of the patient's electronic medical records. A total of 251 consecutive patients (256 cases) were divided into two groups, those with surgical site infections and those without surgical site infections. Preoperative and perioperative variables were compared between these groups, and risk factors were determined by univariate analyses and multivariate logistic regression. Variables analyzed included age, gender, smoking history, diabetes, presence of an open fracture, presence of compartment syndrome, Schatzker classification, polytrauma status, ICU stay, time from injury to surgery, use of temporary external fixation, surgical approach, surgical fixation, operative time, and use of a drain.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall rate of surgical site infection after ORIF of tibial plateau fractures during the 7 years of this study was 7.8% (20 of 256). The most common causative pathogens was Staphylococcus aureus (n=15, 75%). Independent predictors of surgical site infection identified by multivariate analyses were open tibial plateau fracture (odds ratio=3.9; 95% CI=1.3-11.6; p=0.015) and operative time (odds ratio=2.7; 95% CI=1.6-4.4; p<0.001). The presence of compartment syndrome (odds ratio=3.4; 95% CI=0.7-15.9; p=0.119), use of temporary external fixation (odds ratio=0.5; 95% CI=0.2-1.7; p=0.298), and ICU stay (odds ratio=1.0; 95% CI=1.0-1.1; p=0.074) were not determined to be independent predictors of surgical site infection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both open fracture and operative time are independent risks factors for postoperative infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, School of Medicine, Denver Health Medical Center, University of Colorado Denver, 777 Bannock Street, MC 0188, Denver, CO, 80204, USA.
authors.forename: Shishui
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Cyril
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mauffrey
authors.forename: E Mark
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Hammerberg
authors.forename: Philip F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Stahel
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Hak
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000379:methods*; D005596:Fractures, Closed / Q000601:surgery; D005597:Fractures, Open / Q000601:surgery; D016905:Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / Q000209:etiology*; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D061646:Operative Time; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult