title: Surgical site infections in oncologic orthopaedic prosthetics surgery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Literature reports an incidence of surgical site infections (SSIs) in oncological patients undergoing prosthetic replacement between 8% and 35% after first implantation and 43% after revision. The purpose of this retrospective study, conducted at the oncologic orthopaedic unit of G. Pini Orthopaedic Hospital in Milan, was to evaluate: - number of SSIs in oncological megaprosthetic reconstruction between 2008 and 2011, - possible risk factors associated with the onset of SSIs, - antibiotic prophylaxis applied.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed medical records of patients who underwent megaprosthetic reconstruction and collected data on whole treatment and follow up after discharge, focusing on possible risk factors implied in the onset of SSIs such as patient characteristics, site of surgery, duration of surgery, number of persons in the operating room, size of resection, antibiotic prophylaxis. We recorded every SSI which met the criteria set by the Hospital in Europe Link for Infection Control through Surveillance (HELICS) protocol.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One-hundred and eleven surgeries were evaluated. Administration of prophylaxis was generally recorded and continued postoperatively for an average of 18.89 days, often depending on the length of the post-surgical stay. Mean duration of surgery was 254 minutes with an average of 7 persons attending the operating room. We recorded 6 SSIs.
authors.affiliation: Phd Program in Public Health, University of Milan, Italy - Orthopedic Institute, G. Pini, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nobile
authors.affiliation: Orthopedic Institute, G. Pini, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Navone
authors.affiliation: Post graduate School in Public Health, University of Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Domeniconi
authors.affiliation: Orthopedic Institute, G. Pini, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Della Valle
authors.affiliation: Orthopedic Institute, G. Pini, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Daolio
authors.affiliation: Orthopedic Institute, G. Pini, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: N A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Buccino
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Auxilia
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis / Q000379:methods; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D061646:Operative Time; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation / Q000379:methods*; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control
keywords: Endoprosthesis; Orthopaedic oncology; Surgical site infection