title: Risk factors for wound complications in patients after elective orthopedic foot and ankle surgery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to quantify the incidence of postoperative wound complications in elective foot and ankle surgery as well as the risk factors for postoperative wound complications.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred ninety-five elective orthopaedic foot and ankle operative procedures were performed in 290 patients between January 2006 and June 2010. A logistic multiple regression model was used to identify independent risk factors for postoperative wound healing complications/infection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall prevalence of postoperative wound complications within our cohort was 16.9%. In 4 patients (1.4%) deep infection was diagnosed requiring operative irrigation and debridement. Using a logistic multiple regression model we identified the following statistically independent risk factors: age ≥ 60 years (OR = 8.98, 95% CI = 3.55 to 25.02), tobacco use (OR = 48.77, 95% CI = 15.55 to 139.71), and tourniquet time ≥ 90 minutes (OR = 7.02, 95% CI = 2.77 to 19.32).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients at risk for postoperative wound healing complications following elective orthopaedic foot and ankle surgery include those with higher age, tobacco use, and prolonged use of tourniquet.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prognostic Level III, comparative study.
authors.affiliation: Orthopaedic Department, University Hospital of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wiewiorski
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA alexej.barg@hsc.utah.edu.
authors.forename: Alexej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barg
authors.affiliation: Orthopaedic Department, University Hospital of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Hubert
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hoerterer
authors.affiliation: Orthopaedic Department, University Hospital of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Voellmy
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Harold K. Dunn Orthopaedic Research Laboratory, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
authors.forename: Heath B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Henninger
authors.affiliation: Orthopaedic Department, University Hospital of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Valderrabano
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000842:Ankle / Q000601:surgery*; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures; D005260:Female; D005528:Foot / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014111:Tourniquets; D014945:Wound Healing; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: foot and ankle surgery; risk factors; tobacco use; use of tourniquet; wound healing complications; wound infections