Surgical site infection following open reduction and internal fixation of a closed ankle fractures: A retrospective multicenter cohort study

Experience with immediate internal fixation combined with primary wound closure in Gustilo-Anderson type IIIA open ankle fractures

Open ankle fractures, especially Gustilo-Anderson type III fractures are challenging to manage with controversy over the "best" or "superior" treatment strategy. This study aimed to evaluate the treatment outcome of immediate internal fixation combined with primary wound closure in the management of Gustilo-Anderson type III open ankle fractures. We retrospectively assessed the outcomes of thirty-two patients treated using immediate internal fixation combined with primary wound closure with a minimum follow-up of twenty-four months. At the median follow-up of 38 (24 to 62) months, the mean American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society scale score was 87.22±4.05. The physical component summary score of Short-Form 36 Health Status Survey was 66.63±11.42 and the mental component summary score was 67.31±7.20. Range of motion of Ankle/Foot injured side was 64.56±4.30 degrees, and Range of motion of Ankle/Foot uninjured side was 72.31±3.12 degrees. Visual analog pain scale score was 1.5±0.88 at rest and 3.09±1.17 during activity. According to American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society scale score, the rate of excellent and good outcomes was 90.6%. Postoperative complications were documented, comprising two (6.4%) cases of infection, five (15.6%) cases of wound skin necrosis, one (3.2%) case of postoperative ankle traumatic arthritis, and one (3.2%) case requiring reoperation due to suboptimal fibula fracture reduction. The study results demonstrated that immediate internal fixation combined with primary wound closure for Gustilo-Anderson type III open ankle fractures achieve good functional outcomes and lower complication rates. Level of Evidence: Level IV, retrospective case series.

Comparison of Patient Demographics and Risk of Surgical Site Infections Following Open Reduction and Internal Fixation of Trimalleolar Ankle Fractures: A Nationwide Analysis of a Private Payor

Surgical site infections (SSIs) are a notable complication following open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) for ankle fractures. The purpose of this study was to (1) compare baseline demographics of patients who did and did not develop SSIs within 90 days following ORIF for trimalleolar ankle fractures and (2) identify risk factors associated with SSIs in this setting. A retrospective analysis from 2010 to 2020 was completed using a national administrative database. The study group consisted of patients who underwent ORIF for trimalleolar ankle fractures and developed SSIs within 90 days postoperatively. Patients without SSIs served as the comparison cohort. Baseline demographics of the two cohorts were compared utilizing Pearson's Chi-Square Analyses. A multivariate binomial logistic regression model determined the association of various comorbidities on developing SSIs in this setting. Out of a total sample of 22,118 patients, 1000 individuals (4.52%) developed SSIs. The study revealed that the SSI cohort exhibited a greater burden of comorbidities, as evidenced by significant differences in various individual comorbidities and average Elixhauser-Comorbidity Indices scores. The most strongly associated risk factors for the development of SSIs following ORIF for trimalleolar ankle fractures were peripheral vascular disease (OR: 1.53, p < .0001), diabetes mellitus (OR: 1.26, p = .0010), iron deficiency anemia (OR: 1.24, p = .0010), male sex (OR: 1.22, p = .0010), and tobacco use (OR: 1.15, p = .0010). This study identified several patient risk factors that were associated with developing SSIs after ORIF for trimalleolar ankle fractures, recognizing potential patient-directed interventions that may reduce the rate of SSIs in this setting.

Risk factors contributing to postoperative surgical site infections in patients undergoing ankle fracture fixation: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Surgical site infections (SSIs) following ankle fracture fixation pose significant challenges in patient recovery and healthcare management. Identifying risk factors contributing to SSIs can aid in developing targeted prevention and treatment strategies. This systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines and the PICO framework. A comprehensive literature search across major databases, including PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and the Cochrane Library, was completed on September 26, 2023. The inclusion criteria encompassed peer-reviewed studies of various designs that investigated risk factors for SSIs post-ankle fracture fixation. Quality assessment was performed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Statistical analyses assessed heterogeneity and calculated combined effect sizes using fixed- or random-effects models, depending on the heterogeneity observed. The initial search yielded 1250 articles, with seven meeting the inclusion criteria after rigorous screening and full-text review. The included studies, conducted between 2006 and 2019, predominantly utilized case-control designs. The meta-analysis identified diabetes, open fractures, smoking, age, alcohol consumption, ASA score ≥3, high BMI, contaminated incisions, fracture dislocation and heart disease as significant risk factors for postoperative SSIs. Publication bias assessment showed no significant bias across studies. The identification of key risk factors such as diabetes, open fractures, smoking, advanced age, alcohol consumption, high ASA score, elevated BMI, contaminated incisions, fracture dislocation and heart disease is essential in managing SSIs post-ankle fracture fixation. Targeted interventions addressing these risk factors are crucial to reduce the incidence of SSIs and improve overall patient outcomes.

Wound complication risk factors following open reduction and internal fixation of ankle fractures

This study was designed to identify risk factors for wound complications including surgical site infection (SSI) and wound healing issues following open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) of ankle fractures. A retrospective analysis of individuals with ankle fractures treated with ORIF was undertaken. Study subjects were divided into a wound complications (WC) group and a no wound complication (NWC) group. The WC group was further divided into an SSI group and wound healing issues group. Twenty-one potential risk factors associated with wound complications after ORIF were tracked. Uni- and multivariate binary logistical regression analyses were used to identify risk factors associated with wound complications, ISS and wound healing issues. In total, 613 individuals, who had undergone surgery for ankle fractures formed the study cohort. The incidence of postoperative wound complications was 10.3% (63 cases), including 5.2% of SSI (32 cases) and 5.1% of wound healing issues (31 cases). The independent risk factors for wound complications were age 65 years or older, preoperative serum albumin level below 35 g/L, peripheral neuropathy, open fracture, fewer than seven cases per year in surgical volume, and attending surgeon level. The independent risk factors for SSI were age 65 years or older, preoperative serum albumin level below 35 g/L, open fracture and fewer than seven cases per year in surgical volume. The independent risk factors for wound healing issues were preoperative serum albumin level below 35 g/L, peripheral neuropathy, open fracture and attending surgeon level. Herein we found both factors inherent to the injury and individual and those pertaining to the surgical team affected the frequency of wound complications after ORIF of ankle fractures. Specifically, advanced age and low surgical volume were associated with a greater risk of SSI. Peripheral neuropathy and the low expertise level on the part of the surgeon were associated with a greater risk of wound healing issues. Hypoproteinaemia and open fracture were both associated with a greater risk of both SSI and wound healing issues.

Risk factors for surgical site infection following orthopaedic surgery for fracture by trauma: a nested case-control study

BACKGROUND

Surgical site infection (SSI) is associated with higher medical expenses and lower patient quality of life.

AIM

To identify specific modifiable risk factors for SSI after orthopaedic surgery for fractures caused by trauma.

METHODS

This nested case-control study used a nationwide trauma registry, the Japan Trauma Data Bank (JTDB) database. Patient data from 280 hospitals between January 2004 and May 2019 were retrieved from the JTDB. Patients with SSI and identified patients without SSI as control subjects were included, using propensity score matching adjusted for unmodifiable factors. Risk factors associated with SSI after orthopaedic trauma surgery were assessed using multi-level mixed-effects logistic regression models.

FINDINGS

In total, 15,910 patients were included in the analysis. Of these patients, 377 (2.4%) had SSI. After propensity score matching, 258 patients with SSI and 2580 matched patients without SSI were selected. In the multi-level mixed-effects logistic regression analysis, blood transfusion within 24 h (odds ratio (OR): 1.51; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.06-2.13) was a significant risk factor for SSI following orthopaedic fracture surgery. The OR (95% CI) values for external fixation, transcatheter arterial embolization, and tourniquet for SSI following orthopaedic fracture surgery were 1.40 (0.96-2.03), 1.66 (0.81-3.38), and 2.99 (0.60-14.87), respectively.

CONCLUSION

These findings highlight the necessity of exercising caution when implementing blood transfusion within 24 h as a risk factor associated with SSI following orthopaedic trauma surgery.

Incidence and Risk Factors for Surgical Site Infection in Ankle Fractures: An Observational Study of 480 Patients in Sweden

INTRODUCTION

Surgical site infection (SSI) is a frequently reported complication after ankle fracture surgery. To our knowledge, no study has been conducted on its incidence in Sweden. The present study aimed to determine the incidence of, risk factors for, and most common causative pathogen of SSI.

METHODS

Patients who underwent primary surgery for an ankle fracture between 1 September 2017 and 31 August 2019 at the Sahlgrenska University Hospital were identified. Data on potential SSI risk factors and clinical outcome (infected/non-infected) were retrieved from medical records. Cox regression analysis and descriptive statistics were used.

RESULTS

Of the 480 reviewed patients, 49 developed SSI (10.2%), of which 35 (7.3%) were superficial and 14 (2.9%) were deep. Open fractures (p < 0.001) and age (p = 0.016) were statistically significant risk factors for SSI in the univariate analysis. In the multivariable analysis, only open fracture was statistically significant (HR = 3.0; 95% C.I. = 1.3-6.9, p = 0.013). Cases of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) were most common (n = 12, 24.5%). Methicillin resistance was uncommon (n = 2, 4.1%).

CONCLUSIONS

An incidence of 10.2% was established, which is comparable to international findings. Infection monitoring is an important part of tackling the global challenge of antibiotic resistance. Future prospective studies to further establish risk factors are warranted to decrease the incidence of SSI.

Enterobacter cloacae Infection After Surgical Treatment of Ankle Fractures, a Multicenter Observational Study

BACKGROUND

Infection is one of the challenging complications after open reduction and internal fixation for ankle fractures. Previously published case series conclude that Staphylococcus aureus is the most frequent causative microorganism. An unexpected increase in Enterobacter cloacae infections after this surgery was observed in a preliminary analysis of data at the promoting center of the study. In traumatology, its incidence has been reported in chronic osteomyelitis, prosthetic infections, septic osteoarthritis, open fractures in children and adults, and fractures other than the ankle. Because of this unexpected finding, we decided to perform this study to analyze the demographic and microbiological variables of acute osteosynthesis infection after ankle fracture and determine the distinctive features of the patients with E cloacae infection.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective multicenter study including 4 university hospitals. All patients diagnosed with acute osteosynthesis infection after ankle fracture fixation between January 2015 and December 2018 were included. We analyzed demographic data, type of fracture, surgical technique, and microorganisms responsible for the infection. We performed a descriptive statistical analysis of the variables. Univariate and multivariate regression analysis were performed to compare patients with E cloacae infection to patients with infection caused by other microorganisms.

RESULTS

A total of 65 patients were included. A predominance of polymicrobial infections (24.62%), followed by infections caused by S aureus (23.07%) and E cloacae (23.07%) was observed. When E cloacae isolated in polymicrobial infections were added, the incidence of E cloacae as a causative microorganism increased to 32.3%. Patients with E cloacae infection were older (64/53, P = .008) and had a higher requirement of negative-pressure therapy after surgical debridement (71%/40%, P = .017).

CONCLUSION

A high incidence of E cloacae infections was observed. Patients with E cloacae infection were generally older and required a higher use of negative-pressure therapy after debridement.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level V, mechanism-based reasoningr.

Fracture-related infection: Prevalence and application of the new consensus definition in a cohort of 1004 surgically treated ankle fractures

BACKGROUND

Surgical treatment of ankle fractures comes with a substantial risk of complications, including infection. An unambiguously definition of fracture-related infections (FRI) has been missing. Recently, FRI has been defined by a consensus group with a diagnostic algorithm containing suggestive and confirmatory criteria. The aim of the current study was to report the prevalence of FRI in patients operated for ankle fractures and to assess the applicability of the diagnostic algorithm from the consensus group.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Records of all patients with surgically treated ankle fractures from 2015 to 2019 were retrospectively reviewed for signs of postoperative infections. Patients with suspected infection were stratified according to confirmatory or suggestive criteria of FRI. Rate of FRI among patients with confirmatory and suggestive criteria were calculated.

RESULTS

Suspected infection was found in 104 (10%) out of 1004 patients. Among those patients, confirmatory criteria were met in 76/104 (73%) patients and suggestive criteria were met in 28/104 (27%) at first evaluation. Patients with clinical confirmatory criteria (N = 76) were diagnosed with FRI. Patients with suggestive criteria were further examined with either bacterial sampling at the outpatient clinic, revision surgery including bacterial sampling, or a wait-and-see approach. Eleven (39%) of the 28 patients had positive cultures and were therefore diagnosed as having FRI at second evaluation. In total 87 (9%) patients were diagnosed with FRI according to the consensus definition. Only 73 (70%) of the 104 patients with suspected FRI had adequate bacterial sampling.

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of FRI, applying the FRI-consensus criteria, for patients with surgically treated ankle fractures was 9%. Twenty-two percent of patients who met the confirmatory criteria had negative bacterial cultures. The current study shows that we did not have a systematic approach to patients with suspected FRI as recommended by the consensus group. A systematic approach to adequate bacterial sampling when FRI is suspected is paramount. The consensus definition of FRI and its diagnostic algorithm facilitates such an approach.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III - retrospective cohort study.

Risk factors for deep surgical site infection following surgically treated peri-ankle fractures: a case-control study based on propensity score matching

AIMS

This study aims to identify the risk factors for deep surgical site infection (DSSI) following surgically treated peri-ankle fractures.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective case-control study using the propensity score matching (PSM) method in 1:2 ratio, based on the 6 baseline variables, including age, gender, living area, insurance type, fracture location and surgical date. Data on patients who underwent surgical treatment of peri-ankle fractures were collected by inquiring their hospitalization medical records and operative records, as well as the laboratory reports. Conditional logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the risk factors for DSSI.

RESULTS

A total of 2147 patients were eligibly included and 74 had a DSSI, indicating an incidence rate of 3.4%. After PSM, 70 cases of DSSI and 140 controls without DSSI were matched, constituting the study cohort. The univariate analyses showed significant differences between groups in terms of history of any surgery, time to operation, surgical wound classification, smoking, alcohol drinking, RBC count, hemoglobin concentration and hematocrit (%). The conditional logistic regression analysis showed time to operation of < 4 or > 9 (vs 4-9 days); unclean wound, current smoking, high-energy injury mechanism and lower hematocrit were independent risk factors for DSSI.

CONCLUSIONS

Timely modification of smoking and hematocrit (%), and limiting operation within a rational time frame for an optimized soft tissue condition, may provide potential clinical benefits for SSI prevention.

Tibio-Talar-Calcaneal Nail Fixation for Ankle Fractures: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Unstable ankle fractures are traditionally treated with open reduction and internal fixation. An alternative surgical option is primary tibio-talar-calcaneal fusion. Our aims were to determine the indication, complication rates, and functional outcomes, of tibio-talar-calcaneal nailing when used as the primary treatment of ankle fractures. A multidatabase literature search was performed on December 14, 2019 according to PRISMA guidelines. All studies in the English language reporting complications and outcomes involving tibio-talar-calcaneal nailing for primary treatment of ankle fractures were included. Ten studies with 252 ankle fractures were included. Mean age of patients was 75.5 (32-101) years. Mean follow-up duration was 79 weeks (36-104 weeks). Surgical site infection occurred in 11.2% (95% confidence interval [CI] 6.3%-19%) of patients, implant failure occurred in 8.1% (95% CI 5%-12.8%) of patients, and unplanned return to operating room occurred in 10.1% (95% CI 6.1%-16.2%) of patients. There were no cases of wound dehiscence. All-cause mortality rate at the end of follow-up was 26.6% (95% CI 19.7%-34.9%). Average reduction in Olerud-Molander Ankle Score after surgery was 7.9 points (5.0-11.8). Eighty-one point five percent (95% CI: 67.4%-90.4%) of patients were able to return to similar preoperative mobility aid after surgery. Tibio-talar-calcaneal nailing is an alternative procedure for patients who have sustained fractures unsuitable for nonoperative management, but have low functional demands and at increased risks of complications after open reduction and internal fixation. About 81.5% (95% CI 67.4%-90.4%) of patients were able to return to a similar preinjury mobility status after tibio-talar-calcaneal nailing.

Surgical site infection in upper extremity fracture: Incidence and prognostic risk factors

Upper extremity fractures (UEF) occurred in about 0.67% of males and females at some point in their lifetime. Surgical treatment has the advantage of good functional recovery, however, the occurrence of surgical site infection (SSI) affects the clinical outcome of operation. Currently, there are few studies focused on SSI of UEF. Consecutive patients with UEF and underwent surgeries from January 2010 to February 2021 were recruited. Demographic data, surgical related variables and laboratory test index of these patients were extracted and collected from the electronic medical records and picture archiving and communication system by well-trained investigators. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed to detect the optimum cut-off value for continuous variables. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify independent risk factors of SSI. In total, 286 patients with a mean age of 44.4 ± 16.6 years were identified for inclusion, 59.8% patients diagnosed with fracture of radius and ulna and 40.2% fractures located in the humerus, closed and open fractures were occurred in 252 and 34 adult patients respectively. 7.3% UEF patients were encountered with SSI, incidence of superficial and deep infection was 6.3% and 1.0%. Open fracture (OR, 8.33; P, .000), operation time longer than 122 minutes (OR, 3.12; P, .036), intraoperative blood loss more than 135 mL (OR, 3.98; P, .009) and albumin (ALB) lower than 40.8 g/L (OR, 3.60; P, .015) were demonstrated as independent risk factors of SSI. Adequate preoperative evaluation, careful intraoperative manipulation, and timely and appropriate postoperative interventions should be formulated to reduce the incidence of SSI in patients with the above perioperative high-risk factors.

Incidence and risk factors associated with surgical site infection after surgically treated hip fractures in older adults: a retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Surgical site infection (SSI) is one of the most common complications in the traumatic orthopedics field, but remains not adequately studied after hip fractures.

AIMS

This study aims to investigate the incidence and risk factors associated with SSI after surgically treated hip fractures in older adults.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study including 2932 older adult patients (1416 with femoral neck fracture and 1516 with intertrochanteric fracture) surgically treated from Jan 2015 to Dec 2019 due to hip fractures was performed. Their data on demographics, injury-related data, surgery-related data, and preoperative laboratory test results were collected from hospitalization medical records. Univariate analyses were used to compare between the patients with and without SSI, and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to identify the risk factors.

RESULTS

A total of 89 patients developed SSI, with an accumulated incidence rate of 3.04% (95%CI 2.41-3.66). Staphylococcus aureus was the most common source of infection. In univariate analysis, 11 items were found to be significant in femoral neck fractures and 5 items were found to be significant in intertrochanteric fracture. In the multivariable logistic regression model, cerebrovascular disease (OR 2.17, 95%CI 1.14-4.15) and hematocrit (HCT) (< Lower limit) (OR 3.46, 95%CI 1.13-10.56) were independent risk factors for SSI in femoral neck fracture. Heart disease (OR 2.13, 95%CI 1.18-3.85) was a risk factor for SSI, while LDH (> 250 U/L) (OR 0.44, 95%CI 0.20-0.95) was a protective factor for SSI in intertrochanteric fracture.

DISCUSSION

We observed 89 cases (3.04%) of SSI in 2932 older adult patients with hip fractures in this study. Cerebrovascular disease and lower HCT were two independent risk factors for SSI in femoral neck fracture, whereas heart disease was a risk factor and LDH was a protective factor for SSI in intertrochanteric fracture.

CONCLUSIONS

Targeted preoperative management, such as predicting the probability of SSI and taking appropriate measures accordingly is essential and highly regarded. Future multicentric studies with more patients evaluated are expected to better address the risk factors for SSI in older hip fracture patients.

Post-Operative Outcomes of Circular External Fixation in the Definitive Treatment of Tibial Plafond Fractures: A Systematic Review

Tibial plafond fractures (TPFs) are uncommon but potentially devastating injuries to the ankle. Operative treatments include internal and external fixation modalities. This article provides a systematic review of the clinical and functional outcomes of TPFs treated specifically with circular external fixation (CEF). A literature search of medical databases from inception to 13th November 2020 was performed. Original studies written in the English language reporting clinical, radiological, and functional outcome data of TPF treated with CEF were included. Patient demographics, fracture classification, open fractures, post-operative complications, clinical outcomes, radiological outcomes, and functional outcomes were collected. Quality and risk of bias were assessed using standardised scoring tools.In total, 16 studies were included. One prospective randomised study was identified. Collated data of 303 patients were analysed. The mean time to union was 21 weeks. Malunion occurred in 12.4%. The rate of deep infection was 4.8%, but no amputations were recorded. The risk of minor soft tissue infection (including pin-site infections) was 54%. Almost two-thirds achieved good-to-anatomic reduction radiologically. Approximately one-third reported excellent functional outcome scores. The quality of the studies was deemed satisfactory. A moderate risk of bias was acknowledged. This systemic review provides a summary of outcome data regarding CEF as a treatment for TPF. It highlights CEF as an acceptable treatment option with comparable results to that of internal fixation. Further higher-quality evidence is advised.

Comparison study of patient demographics and risk factors for surgical site infections following open reduction and internal fixation for lateral malleolar ankle fractures within the medicare population

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to analyze a comprehensive database to 1) compare patient demographic profiles; and 2) identify patient-related risk factors for surgical site infections (SSIs) following open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) for lateral malleolar ankle fractures.

METHODS

Patients treated with ORIF for lateral malleolar ankle fractures that developed SSIs within 1-year following the procedure were identified. Study group demographics were compared to a control cohort and risks for developing SSI were calculated using multivariate logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

There were statistically significant differences between the control group and patients with SSIs. The study showed that morbidly obese patients, peripheral vascular disease, and electrolyte/fluid imbalance were the greatest risk factors for developing SSIs following ORIF for lateral malleolar fractures.

CONCLUSION

The study is useful as it can allow orthopaedists to optimize these high-risk patients to potentially mitigate this adverse event.

Epidemiology and microbiology of fracture-related infection: a multicenter study in Northeast China

Objective

This study aimed to explore the epidemiological and microbiological characteristics of fracture-related infection (FRI), analyze the drug resistance characteristics of major pathogens, and provide timely and relatively complete clinical and microbiological data for antimicrobial treatment of FRI.

Methods

The clinical and microbiological data of patients with FRI from January 1, 2011, to December 31, 2020, were collected from three tertiary hospitals in Northeast China. The automatic microbial analysis system was used for strain identification and drug susceptibility testing, and the drug susceptibility results were determined in accordance with the latest Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) criteria (as applicable each year).

Results

A total of 744 patients with FRI were enrolled. The incidence of FRI was about 1.5%, and 81.7% were male patients, with an average age of 48.98 ± 16.01 years. Open fractures accounted for 64.8%. Motor crush (32.8%) and falling (29.8%) were the main causes of injuries. The common sites of infection were the tibia and fibula (47.6%), femur (11.8%), foot (11.8%), and hand (11.6%). A total of 566 pathogenic bacteria were cultured in 378 patients with positive bacterial cultures, of which 53.0% were Gram-positive bacteria and 47.0% were Gram-negative bacteria. The most common pathogen at all sites of infection is Staphylococcus aureus. Staphylococcus aureus had a high resistance rate to penicillin (PEN), erythromycin (ERY), and clindamycin (CLI), exceeding 50%. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was more than 80% resistant to CLI and ERY.

Conclusions

The incidence of FRI in Northeast China was at a low level among major medical centers nationwide. Staphylococcus aureus was still the main pathogen causing bone infections, and the proportion of MRSA was lower than reported abroad, but we have observed an increase in the proportion of infections. Enterobacteriaceae have a higher resistance rate to third-generation cephalosporins and quinolones. For Enterobacteriaceae, other sensitive treatment drugs should be selected clinically.

Outpatient surgery in patients with ankle fractures minimises hospital admissions and utilisation of healthcare resources

Purpose

The recent outbreak of the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) has emphasised the need to minimise hospital admissions and utilisation of healthcare resources. The purpose of this study was to examine the outcomes of an outpatient surgery protocol for acute closed ankle fractures.

Methods

In this retrospective study, 262 patients underwent outpatient surgery for their closed ankle fractures at our level-1 trauma centre. A total of 196 patients met our inclusion criteria and were ultimately included in the final analysis. Our primary outcomes’ measures included post-operative admission to the emergency department within 30 days after surgery and unplanned hospital readmission within 30 days after surgery. Our secondary outcome measure included the incidence of surgical site infection (SSI) within 12 weeks after surgery.

Results

Thirty-two patients (16.3%) had an unplanned emergency department visit within 30 days of fracture fixation and two patients (1.0%) required hospital readmission within 30 days of their surgery. Sixteen patients (8.2%) developed SSI, which included 11 (5.6%) superficial and five (2.6%) deep infections.

Conclusion

Strategic outpatient management of acute closed ankle fractures is associated with acceptable rates of unplanned emergency department visits, hospital readmissions, and SSIs. In the context of the recent SARS-CoV-2 outbreak, outpatient management of these injuries may aide in the mitigation of nosocomial infections and the preservation of finite healthcare resources.

Duration of antibiotic treatment and risk of recurrence after surgical management of orthopaedic device infections: a multicenter case-control study

Background

Device-related infections in orthopaedic and trauma surgery are a devastating complication with substantial impact on morbidity and mortality. Systemic suppressive antibiotic treatment is regarded an integral part of any surgical protocol intended to eradicate the infection. The optimal duration of antimicrobial treatment, however, remains unclear. In a multicenter case-control study, we aimed at analyzing the influence of the duration of antibiotic exposure on reinfection rates 1 year after curative surgery.

Methods

This investigation was part of a federally funded multidisciplinary network project aiming at reducing the spread of multi-resistant bacteria in the German Baltic region of Pomerania. We herein used hospital chart data from patients treated for infections of total joint arthroplasties or internal fracture fixation devices at three academic referral institutions. Subjects with recurrence of an implant-related infection within 1 year after the last surgical procedure were defined as case group, and patients without recurrence of an implant-related infection as control group. We placed a distinct focus on infection of open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) constructs. Uni- and multivariate logistic regression analyses were employed for data modelling.

Results

Of 1279 potentially eligible patients, 269 were included in the overall analysis group, and 84 contributed to an extramedullary fracture-fixation-device sample. By multivariate analysis, male sex (odds ratio [OR] 2.06, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.08 to 3.94, p = 0.029) and facture fixation device infections (OR 2.05, 95% CI 1.05 to 4.02, p = 0.036) remained independent predictors of reinfection. In the subgroup of infected ORIF constructs, univariate point estimates suggested a nearly 60% reduced odds of reinfection with systemic fluoroquinolones (OR 0.42, 95% CI 0.04 to 2.46) or rifampicin treatment (OR 0.41, 95% CI 0.08 to 2.12) for up to 31 days, although the width of confidence intervals prohibited robust statistical and clinical inferences.

Conclusion

The optimal duration of systemic antibiotic treatment with surgical concepts of curing wound and device-related orthopaedic infections is still unclear. The risk of reinfection in case of infected extramedullary fracture-fxation devices may be reduced with up to 31 days of systemic fluoroquinolones and rifampicin, although scientific proof needs a randomized trial with about 1400 subjects per group. Concerted efforts are needed to determine which antibiotics must be applied for how long after radical surgical sanitation to guarantee sustainable treatment success.

Staple versus suture closure for ankle fracture fixation: Retrospective chart review for safety and outcomes

INTRODUCTION/AIM

Recent comparisons of suture versus metal staple skin closure on the rates of wound complications in orthopaedic surgeries have yielded conflicting results. Several studies have since started to approach this question based on anatomic location, comparing suture versus staple closure in total hip and knee arthroplasty and acetabulum fracture surgery. Ankle fractures are one of the most commonly treated fractures by orthopaedic surgeons with unique challenges to skin closure due to the lack of subcutaneous support. However, to date there are no studies comparing superficial skin closure methods specifically in ankle surgery. The objective of this study was to evaluate the safety of staple versus suture closure for open fixation of acute traumatic ankle fractures.

METHODS

The medical records of patients treated at one institution by a single surgeon with open surgical fixation of an acute traumatic ankle fracture between 2011 and 2017 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients with less than 6 months of follow-up, polytrauma patients, diabetic patients, and patients with more than 3 medical comorbidities were excluded. Skin closure technique was determined by the presence or absence of metallic staples on postoperative imaging. Demographic variables, surgical characteristics, and postoperative outcomes up to one year were compared between patients who received superficial skin closure using staple versus suture techniques. Statistical analysis was performed using chi-squared tests and Fisher's exact tests, with p=0.05 used to denote statistical significance.

RESULTS

This study included 94 patients aged 18 to 75: two groups of 47 patients (Staple group and Suture group) that were demographically similar at baseline. Overweight and obese patients constituted the majority of the sample, 34% and 46% of patients, respectively. Current tobacco use was reported by 45% of patients. Fractures tended to be right-sided (63%), low energy (64%), and closed (98%), and the most common fracture types were bimalleolar (30%), lateral malleolar (24%), and pilon (19%) fractures. Ten patients (10.6%) developed local wound related complications within 4 months postoperatively, including five incidences of wound dehiscence, four superficial wound infections, and one deep infection. Eight patients (8.5%) required revision surgery due to wound related complications. There was no difference in the incidence of surgical site infections (p=0.361), local wound related complications (p=0.316), or revision surgeries (p=0.267) between wound closure techniques. Suture group patients required more staff in the operating room compared with staple group patients (p=0.001).

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that staples are a safe alternative to sutures for superficial skin closure in healthy, non-diabetic patients following open surgical fixation of acute traumatic ankle fractures. However, this retrospective, single-institution study was limited by the low number of available patients relative to the rare outcomes of interest. Larger, prospective studies are needed to validate the accuracy and generalizability of these results.

Deep surgical site infection after ankle fractures treated by open reduction and internal fixation in adults: A retrospective case-control study

Information on ankle fractures is limited. The purpose of this study was to investigate the incidence and risk factors for deep surgical site infection (DSSI) after open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF). Adult patients who underwent ORIF for an ankle fractures at 3 level-I centres between January 2013 and June 2017 were included. Data on demographic, injury-related, and surgery-related variables and biochemical indexes from the laboratory were collected from patients' electronic medical records. Univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis model were used to perform the data analysis through SPSS 19.0. Within 1-year postoperatively, 2.83% (74/2617) of cases developed DSSI, with the earliest occurring at the 4th and latest at 147th day. Pseudomonas aeruginosa, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus were the top 3 bacteria, causing 73% (37/51) of all the cases. Age (45-64 and ≥65 years), current smoking status, chronic heart disease, lower preoperative albumin level, open injury, and prolonged surgical duration were identified to be independently associated with DSSI occurrence. Preoperative active supplementation of nutrition, immediate smoking cessation, and optimisation of an operative plan for the reduction of surgical duration were feasible measures for DSSI prevention following ORIF of ankle fractures.