Risk Factors of Surgical Site Infection after Acetabular Fracture Surgery

Incidence and risk factors associated with surgical site infection in acetabular fracture patients: An experience from north India

Introduction

Nearly 5-7% of patients undergoing surgical management of acetabular fractures develop surgical site infection (SSI) which is one of the most important factors affecting the hospital stay, success of procedure and overall patient satisfaction. Systematic studies to identify the risk factors and their control could help to reduce the surgical site infection rate considerably. The present study assessed the incidence and risk factors related with SSI in patients undergoing surgical management of acetabular fractures at our center.

Methods and materials

This retrospective record review included a total of 228 adult acetabular fracture patients (≥18 years) who were managed surgically. Demographic and clinical profile of the patients was noted and cases developing SSI. Univariate and multivariate association of different demographic and clinical factors was done to identify factors significantly associated with SSI. Univariate analysis was done using chi-square test. Multivariate assessment was done using binary logistic regression.

Results

Mean age of patients was 36.40 ± 14.18 years. Majority of patients were males (83.8 %). Incidence of SSI was 6.1 %. On univariate analysis, age ≥40 years, occupation service/business, fall from height, BMI >25 kg/m2, presence of associated injury, ≥48 h gap between injury and surgery, smoking and use of Kocher-Langenbeck approach for surgery were found to be significantly associated with an increased risk of SSI. However, on multivariate analysis only age >40 years (OR = 3.72; 95 % CI = 1.00-3.75; p = 0.049) and BMI>25.0 kg/m2 (OR = 0.20; 95 % CI = 0.05-0.85; p = 0.029) were the significant predictors of SSI.

Conclusions

This study identified that surgical site infection rates show a secular stagnating trend. There were almost no modifiable risk factors that could reduce this incidence, however, a strict post-operative care in patients with age >40 years and BMI>25 kg/m2 could help to change the direction of these trends.

A technique for introducing broad-spectrum topical antibiotics during open reduction and internal fixation of acetabular fractures

Postoperative surgical site infections remain a significant and prevalent complication after open reduction and internal fixation of acetabular fractures. Local antibiotics have been shown to decrease risk of postoperative infection, although recent evidence is conflicting. We provide a consistent and replicable technique for delivering intraoperative broad-spectrum antibiotics in the form of a putty applied directly to surgical implants. With this technique, systemic levels of those antibiotics remain safe and stable.

Predictors of in-hospital surgical site infections in surgically managed acetabular fractures: A nationwide analysis

Background

A surgical site infection (SSI) rate of 4%-8% has been reported in patients who undergo open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) for acetabular fractures. Studies have identified risk factors for SSI, but none have performed a nationwide analysis of SSI in surgically managed acetabular fracture patients.

Methods

The National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database was queried for patients who underwent ORIF for acetabular fractures from 2016 to 2019. Analysis was performed on all patients who underwent ORIF for acetabular fractures, as well as those who only underwent ORIF for isolated acetabular fractures. Clinical characteristics, hospital course, discharge disposition, and hospitalization costs were compared between groups. Multivariate regression analysis was conducted to assess predictors of SSI.

Results

41,725 patients undergoing acetabular fracture repair were identified, of which 490 (1.2%) developed SSI during hospitalization. Age (45.90 vs 49.90, p < 0.001) and Injury Severity Scale (5.99 vs 8.30, p < 0.001) were increased in patients who developed SSI. History of hypertension (HTN) (OR = 2.343, 95% CI 1.96-2.80, p < 0.001), longer hospital length of stay (30.27 days vs 10.00 days, p < 0.001) and total charges ($469,005 vs $193,032, p < 0.001) were associated with SSI. Lower rates of routine discharge were seen in SSI patients (OR = 0.333, 95% CI 0.260-0.426, p < 0.001). Higher rates of inpatient death were associated with SSI (OR = 2.210, 95% CI 1.172-4.17, p = 0.019). Multiple procedures in addition to acetabular fracture repair, iliac artery embolization, substance abuse, later time to internal fixation and HTN were predictive of SSI (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

Severity of injury, time to fixation, and factors associated with compromised cardiovascular integrity were predictors of SSI. Identifying patients at risk for SSI should lead to clinical maneuvers that may optimize outcome.

Using multiple indicators to predict the risk of surgical site infection after ORIF of tibia fractures: a machine learning based study

Objective

Surgical site infection (SSI) are a serious complication that can occur after open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) of tibial fractures, leading to severe consequences. This study aimed to develop a machine learning (ML)-based predictive model to screen high-risk patients of SSI following ORIF of tibial fractures, thereby aiding in personalized prevention and treatment.

Methods

Patients who underwent ORIF of tibial fractures between January 2018 and October 2022 at the Department of Emergency Trauma Surgery at Ganzhou People's Hospital were retrospectively included. The demographic characteristics, surgery-related variables and laboratory indicators of patients were collected in the inpatient electronic medical records. Ten different machine learning algorithms were employed to develop the prediction model, and the performance of the models was evaluated to select the best predictive model. Ten-fold cross validation for the training set and ROC curves for the test set were used to evaluate model performance. The decision curve and calibration curve analysis were used to verify the clinical value of the model, and the relative importance of features in the model was analyzed.

Results

A total of 351 patients who underwent ORIF of tibia fractures were included in this study, among whom 51 (14.53%) had SSI and 300 (85.47%) did not. Of the patients with SSI, 15 cases were of deep infection, and 36 cases were of superficial infection. Given the initial parameters, the ET, LR and RF are the top three algorithms with excellent performance. Ten-fold cross-validation on the training set and ROC curves on the test set revealed that the ET model had the best performance, with AUC values of 0.853 and 0.866, respectively. The decision curve analysis and calibration curves also showed that the ET model had the best clinical utility. Finally, the performance of the ET model was further tested, and the relative importance of features in the model was analyzed.

Conclusion

In this study, we constructed a multivariate prediction model for SSI after ORIF of tibial fracture through ML, and the strength of this study was the use of multiple indicators to establish an infection prediction model, which can better reflect the real situation of patients, and the model show great clinical prediction performance.

Morel-Lavallee lesions and number of surgeries for associated injuries predict surgical site infection risk following pelvic ring injury osteosynthesis

We examined the incidence and causative factors of surgical site infection (SSI) following osteosynthesis for pelvic ring injury by reviewing the data of 97 consecutive patients with pelvic ring injuries treated between 2014 and 2019. Osteosyntheses, including internal or external skeletal fixation with plates or screws, were performed based on fracture type and patient's condition. Fractures were treated surgically, with a 36 months minimum follow-up period. Eight (8.2%) patients experienced SSI. The most common causative pathogen was Staphylococcus aureus. Patients with SSI had significantly worse functional outcomes at 3, 6, 12, 24, and 36 months than those without. For patients with SSI, the average Merle d'Aubigné and Majeed scores at 3, 6, 12, 24, and 36 months after injury were 2.4, 4.1, 8.0, 11.0, and 11.3, and 25.5, 32.1, 47.9, 61.9, and 63.3, respectively. Patients with SSI had a higher likelihood of undergoing staged operations (50.0 vs. 13.5%, p = 0.02), more surgeries for associated injuries (6.3% vs. 2.5%, p = 0.04), higher likelihood of Morel-Lavallee lesions (50.0% vs. 5.6%, p = 0.002), higher incidence of diversional colostomy (37.5% vs. 9.0%, p = 0.05), and longer intensive care unit stay (11.1 vs. 3.9 days, p = 0.001) than those without. The contributing factors for SSI were Morel-Lavallee lesions (odds ratio [OR] 4.55, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 3.34-50.0) and other surgeries for associated injuries (OR 2.37, 95% CI 1.07-5.28). Patients with SSI after osteosynthesis for pelvic ring injuries may have worse short-term functional outcomes.

Risk Factors for Deep Infection and Conversion Total Hip Arthroplasty After Operative Combined Pelvic Ring and Acetabular Fractures

OBJECTIVES

To determine risk factors for deep infection and conversion total hip arthroplasty (THA) after operative management of combined pelvic ring and acetabular injuries.

DESIGN

Retrospective case control study.

SETTING

Level 1 trauma center.

PATIENTS AND INTERVENTION

We reviewed 150 operative combined pelvic ring and acetabular injuries at our institution from 2010 to 2019, with an average follow-up of 690 (90-3282) days.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS

Deep infection and conversion THA.

RESULTS

Patients who developed deep infection (N = 17, 11.3%) had higher rates of hip dislocation ( P = 0.030), intraoperative transfusion ( P = 0.030), higher body mass index (BMI) ( P = 0.046), increased estimated blood loss ( P < 0.001), more intraoperative units transfused ( P = 0.004), and longer operative times ( P = 0.035). Of the 84 patients with 1-year follow-up, 24 (28.6%) required conversion to THA. Patients requiring conversion THA were older ( P = 0.022) and had higher rates of transverse posterior wall fracture pattern ( P = 0.034), posterior wall involvement ( P < 0.001), hip dislocation ( P = 0.031), wall comminution ( P = 0.002), and increased estimated blood loss ( P = 0.024). The order of the pelvic ring versus acetabular fixation did not affect rates of conversion to THA ( P = 0.109). Multiple logistic regression showed that an increased number of intraoperative units transfused [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 1.56, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.16-2.09, P = 0.003] and higher BMI (aOR = 1.10, 95% CI = 1.01-1.16, P = 0.024) were independently associated with an increased odds of deep infection. Posterior wall involvement was independently associated with an increased odds of conversion THA (aOR = 5.73, 95% CI = 1.17-27.04, P = 0.031).

CONCLUSIONS

Rates of deep infection and conversion THA after operative fixation of combined injuries were 11.3% and 28.6%, respectively. Higher average BMI and number of intraoperative units of blood transfused were independently associated with deep infection, whereas posterior wall involvement was independently associated with conversion to THA in these patients.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Prognostic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Risk Factors for Infection Following Operative Treatment of Traumatic Upper Extremity Amputation Injury

Background: Identification of the risk factors for surgical site infection (SSI) can be a straightforward and cost-effective measure to reduce or prevent the occurrence of SSI. However, there are no studies that revealed risk factors for SSI for traumatic upper extremity amputation. The aim of this study is to investigate the risk factors that promote SSI after surgery for traumatic upper extremity amputation using a large nationwide database.

Methods: We used data from the Japan Trauma Data Bank. Diagnoses were defined using the Abbreviated Injury Scale code. We applied multivariate logistic regression to evaluate the infection risk factor. We chose age, sex, vital signs, cause and type of trauma, concomitant injury, diabetes, amputation level, Glasgow coma scale, Injury Severity Score (ISS) and blood transfusion within 24 hours following hospital arrival as confounders. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was adopted to identify thresholds for change in infection risk. We also applied propensity score (PS) matching to adjust for confounding factors that may affect the outcome.

Results: A total of 1,150 patients (967 males, 183 females) had traumatic upper extremity amputation. The mean patient age was 46.5 years. A total of 21 patients (1.8%) suffered from SSI. ISS, blood transfusion, systolic blood pressure (BP) and the upper extremity amputation except for finger were identified as the independent significant risk factors for SSI occurrence by the multivariate analysis (p < 0.05, p < 0.005, p < 0.05 and p < 0.005, respectively). ROC modelling revealed that patients with ISS of over 9 or systolic BP of over 160 had a risk for SSI. After PS matching, the patients with blood transfusion or systolic BP of over 160 had a significantly higher risk of infection (OR 9.0; p = 0.01 and OR 7.0; p = 0.03, respectively).

Conclusions: In treating patients with these risk factors, we must be especially careful in performing thorough debridement and wound care.

Level of Evidence: Level II (Therapeutic)

The radiographic soft tissue thickness is associated with wound complications after open reduction and internal fixation of patella fractures

Background

Displaced patella fracture is commonly treated with open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF). Wound complications after surgery often lead to prolonged hospitalization and dissatisfaction of patients. Periarticular adiposity and swelling may be associated with wound complications. The purpose of this study is to determine the relationship between periarticular soft tissue thickness and wound complications after ORIF of patella fractures.

Methods

We retrospectively studied 237 patients undergoing ORIF for patella fractures from June 2017 to February 2021 at our institution. We established periarticular soft tissue thickness ratio (PSTTR) to evaluate soft tissue status on lateral knee X-ray radiographs. Univariate analysis was performed to identify the association between PSTTR and postoperative wound complication. A receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to evaluate the predictive value of PSTTR.

Results

The incidence of postoperative wound complication was 10.5%. Minor wound complication occurred in 24 patients, and major wound complication occurred in one patient. The average femoral PSTTR (fPSTTR) was 0.94 ± 0.17 and the average tibial PSTTR (tPSTTR) was 0.66 ± 0.16. fPSTTR proved to be associated with postoperative wound complication. In the ROC analysis of fPSTTR predicting postoperative wound complication, the area under curve (AUC) was 0.676, which indicated a moderate predictive value.

Conclusions

PSTTR was a feasible method to assess periarticular soft tissue. The increased fPSTTR was associated with wound complications after ORIF of patella fractures.

Methods of Quantifying Intraoperative Blood Loss in Orthopaedic Trauma Surgery: A Systematic Review

OBJECTIVES

To collect and present the recently published methods of quantifying blood loss (BL) in orthopaedic trauma.

DATA SOURCES

A systematic review of English-language literature in PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Scopus databases was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines on articles describing the methods of determining BL in orthopaedic trauma published since 2010.

STUDY SELECTION

English, full-text, peer-reviewed articles documenting intraoperative BL in an adult patient population undergoing orthopaedic trauma surgery were eligible for inclusion.

DATA EXTRACTION

Two authors independently extracted data from the included studies. Articles were assessed for quality and risk of bias using the Cochrane Collaboration's tool for assessing risk of bias and ROBINS-I.

DATA SYNTHESIS

The included studies proved to be heterogeneous in nature with insufficient data to make data pooling and analysis feasible.

CONCLUSIONS

Eleven methods were identified: 6 unique formulas with multiple variations, changes in hemoglobin and hematocrit levels, measured suction volume and weighed surgical gauze, transfusion quantification, cell salvage volumes, and hematoma evacuation frequency. Formulas included those of Gross, Mercuriali, Lisander, Sehat, Foss, and Stahl, with Gross being the most common (25%). All formulas used blood volume estimation, determined by equations from Nadler (94%) or Moore (6%), and measure change in preoperative and postoperative blood counts. This systematic review highlights the variability in BL estimation methods published in current orthopaedic trauma literature. Methods of quantifying BL should be taken into consideration when designing and evaluating research.

Early hip survival after open reduction internal fixation of acetabular fracture

PURPOSE

To estimate survival of acetabular fracture repair by tracking patients across healthcare encounters. We hypothesized that hip survival estimated this way would be lower than reported by single-surgeon or single-center series not capturing censored reoperations.

METHODS

Retrospective health insurance administrative database cohort study. All claimed healthcare encounters for employer-sponsored health insurance beneficiaries aged 18-65 years without pre-existing hip pathology with a newly diagnosed acetabular fracture were identified between October 1, 2015, through December 31, 2018. The intervention was open reduction internal fixation of acetabular fracture during index admission. The primary outcome was survival of the acetabular fracture repair to subsequent reoperation by arthroscopy, arthrotomy for drainage of infection, implant removal, revision acetabular fixation, hip arthroplasty, hip resection, or arthrodesis.

RESULTS

38 reoperation procedures on the fractured acetabulum in 852 patients occurred within 2 years (incidence 4.5%). Total hip arthroplasty (2.5%) and revision internal fixation (1.5%) accounted for most early reoperations. Multivariable Cox regression identified an association between reoperation and increasing patient age (hazard ratio = 1.4 per decade, p < 0.01). The prevalence of any mental health condition was 29%.

CONCLUSIONS

Non-elderly adults with employer-sponsored insurance who sustain acetabular fractures have a greater burden of mental health disease than similarly insured patients without these injuries. Survival of the native acetabulum after fracture fixation exceeded 95% at 2 years and decreased with increasing patient age.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III, Prognostic Study.

Accuracy of Patient-Specific Drilling Guides in Acetabular Fracture Surgery: A Human Cadaver Study

Due to the complex anatomical shape of the pelvis, screw placement can be challenging in acetabular fracture surgery. This study aims to assess the accuracy of screw placement using patient-specific surgical drilling guides applied to pre-contoured conventional implants in acetabular fracture surgery. CT scans were made of four human cadavers to create 3D models of each (unfractured) pelvis. Implants were pre-contoured on 3D printed pelvic models and optically scanned. Following virtual preoperative planning, surgical drilling guides were designed to fit on top of the implant and were 3D printed. The differences between the pre-planned and actual screw directions (degrees) and screw entry points (mm) were assessed from the pre- and postoperative CT-scans. The median difference between the planned and actual screw direction was 5.9° (IQR: 4–8°) for the in-plate screws and 7.6° (IQR: 6–10°) for the infra-acetabular and column screws. The median entry point differences were 3.6 (IQR: 2–5) mm for the in-plate screws and 2.6 (IQR: 2–3) mm for the infra-acetabular and column screws. No screws penetrated into the hip joint or caused soft tissue injuries. Three-dimensional preoperative planning in combination with surgical guides that envelope pre-contoured conventional implants result in accurate screw placement during acetabular fracture surgery.

Predicting the disaster - The role of CRP in acetabular surgery

OBJECTIVES

Acetabular fractures represent a complex surgical challenge. Given the heterogenous fracture pattern, the patient characteristics and spectrum of complications demand individual solutions. Surgical site infections (SSI) threaten osteosynthesis, and early detection of them and treatment remain crucial. What is the value of postoperative C-reactive protein (CRP) in this group of patients as well as its normal course?

DESIGN & METHODS

115 patients with isolated fractures of the acetabulum were retrospectively evaluated. CRP, white blood cell count (WBC) and fracture patterns as well as patient characteristics were assessed for 20 days following operative fixation of the acetabular fracture (n = 71) and in fractures that were managed conservatively (n = 44).

RESULTS

Twelve patients suffered an infectious complication. With a one-phase decay, 70.55% of the variance of postoperative CRP kinetics was predicted. To anticipate maximum CRP as well as an infection, the preoperative CRP represented the best prognostic parameter. To predict an infection, the single variable "peak CRP value above 100 mg/l" resulted in a sensitivity and specificity of 91.67% and 36.21%, respectively. Combining a second peak of CRP with maximum CRP and day 5 CRP value for receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) analysis resulted in 83.3% and 88.1%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Predicting surgical site infections after an acetabular fracture is most predictive when analyzing the maximum overall CRP, the second peak and the CRP after day 5. With a combination of these parameters, a sensitivity and specificity of 83.3% and 88.1% to detect an infection was achieved.

Is Obesity Associated With an Increased Risk of Complications After Surgical Management of Acetabulum and Pelvis Fractures? A Systematic Review

Background:

When considering surgical fixation of acetabulum and pelvis fractures in patients with obesity, a thorough understanding of the risks of potential complications is important. We performed a systematic review to evaluate whether obesity is associated with an increased risk of complications after surgical management of acetabulum and pelvis fractures.

Methods:

We searched PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library for studies published through December 2020 that reported the effect of increased body mass index (BMI) or obesity on the risk of complications after surgical treatment of acetabulum and pelvis fractures.

Results:

Fifteen studies were included. Eight of the 11 studies that included infection or wound complication as end points found that increased BMI or some degree of obesity was a significant risk factor for these complications. Two studies found that obesity was significantly associated with loss of reduction. Other complications that were assessed in a few studies each included venous thromboembolism, nerve palsy, heterotopic ossification, general systemic complications, and revision surgery, but obesity was not clearly associated with those outcomes.

Conclusions:

Obesity (or elevated BMI) was associated with an increased risk of complications—infection being the most commonly reported—after surgical management of acetabulum and pelvis fractures, which suggests the need for increased perioperative vigilance.

The efficiency and safety of intravenous tranexamic acid administration in open reduction and internal fixation of pelvic and acetabular fractures

PURPOSE

This study aimed to investigate the efficiency and safety of tranexamic acid use in open reduction and internal fixation of pelvis and acetabulum fractures.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

73 consecutive patients were included. 1000 mg TXA was administered intravenously to all patients before surgery. The patients were evaluated on the basis of preoperative, postoperative first and third day hemoglobin-hematocrit values, amount of drainage collected, total blood loss, transfusion rates and complications.

RESULTS

Mean operative time was 120.1 min. Average decrease in hematocrit levels between preoperative and postoperative first day was 2.1 g/dL. Average collected blood from the drain was 177 mL. Mean total blood loss was 1137 mL. Transfusion rate of the patients was 21%. Mean transfused units was 0.9 units. Three patients died within 3 weeks after the operation due to myocardial infarction, acute kidney failure and pneumonia. There were no cases of symptomatic venous or pulmonary thromboembolism during the 90 days of follow-up.

CONCLUSION

Use of TXA in pelvic and acetabular fractures was found to be effective in reducing total blood loss, hemoglobin drop and transfusion rates without increasing venous and pulmonary thromboembolism in our series.

Risk Factors for Surgical Site Infection after Operative Fixation of Acetabular Fractures: Is Psoas Density a Useful Metric?

BACKGROUND

Surgical site infection (SSI) occurs in 5% to 7% of patients undergoing operative fixation of acetabular fractures, with reported risk factors including longer operative duration, increased blood loss, pelvic artery embolization, and concurrent abdominal organ injury, among others. Psoas muscle density is a measure of muscle quality and, as a metric for sarcopenia and/or nutrition status, has been associated with poor outcomes such as mortality across multiple surgical specialties. To date, psoas muscle density has not been explored for its associations with SSI in acetabular fracture patients.Questions/purposes (1) Is decreased psoas muscle density, as measured by Hounsfield units, associated with an increased SSI risk after acetabular fracture fixation? (2) What patient, operative, and hospital variables are associated with an increased SSI risk after acetabular fracture fixation?

METHODS

Between 2012 to 2017, surgeons performed 684 acetabular ORIF procedures at one level I trauma center. Of those, 8% (56 of 684) did not meet inclusion criteria, leaving 92% (n = 628) for analysis in this study. The median (range) follow-up duration was 12 months (0.5-77). Patient demographics, comorbidities, operative and in-hospital variables, and psoas muscle density measured using preoperative pelvic CT images-acquired for all operative acetabular fracture patients-were analyzed. SSI was defined by positive culture results obtained during irrigation and débridement. Overall, 7% (42 of 628) of patients had an SSI. A multivariable regression analysis was performed to identify independent risk factors. Sensitivity analysis was performed with minimum follow-up set at 3 months and 6 months.

RESULTS

There was no difference in the mean psoas muscle density between patients with SSI (50.9 ± 10.2 Hounsfield units [HUs]) and those who did not have an SSI within 1 year of open reduction and internal fixation (51.4 ± 8.1 HUs) (mean difference: 0.5 [95% confidence interval -2.34 to 3.32]; p = 0.69). Four variables were independently associated with an increased risk of SSI: increased operative time (1.04 [95% CI 1.00 to 1.07]; p = 0.03), estimated blood loss (1.08 [95% CI 1.02 to 1.14]; p = 0.01), female sex (2.34 [95% CI 1.19 to 4.60]; p = 0.01), and intravenous drug use (3.95 [95% CI 1.51 to 10.33]; p = 0.01). Sensitivity analysis showed no change in results using either 3-month or 6-month minimum follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

Risk factors for SSI after acetabular fixation include female sex, intravenous drug use, prolonged operative times, and increased intraoperative blood loss. Although the density of the psoas muscle may be a surrogate for nutritional markers, it was not associated with SSI in our patients with acetabular fractures. Thus, it is not useful for risk assessment of SSI in the general population with acetabular fracture; however, future studies with larger sample sizes of patients older than 60 years may re-investigate this marker for SSI risk. Contrary to the results of previous studies, pelvic artery embolization, intraoperative blood transfusion, and intensive care unit stay did not increase the risk of SSI; however, we may have been underpowered to detect differences in these secondary endpoints. Future large, multisite studies may be needed to address these conflicting results more definitively.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III, therapeutic study.

Risk factors for surgical site infections with the Sinus Tarsi Approach in displaced intra-articular calcaneal fractures; a prospective cohort study with a minimum of one year follow-up

BACKGROUND

In the last decade, the sinus tarsi approach (STA) has gained interest over the extensile lateral approach (ELA) in the operative treatment of displaced intra-articular calcaneal fractures (DIACF's), mainly because of the lower rate of surgical site infections (SSIs). However, most studies are small and retrospective. The aim of this study was to evaluate the rate of SSIs of the STA in a large, prospective series of patients and to identify predictors for SSIs.

METHODS

In this prospective cohort study, all consecutive patients who were operatively treated for a DIACF in our Level 1 trauma center between August 2012 and January 2019 were included and followed for at least one year. All operative procedures were performed by two specialized foot and ankle trauma surgeons using the STA. Using multinomial logistic regression, risk factors for SSIs were identified.

RESULTS

A total of 237 calcaneal fractures in 214 patients were included, of which 179 underwent open reduction and internal fixation and 58 a primary arthrodesis. Most patients were male (73.6%) and the mean age was 45.9 years. There were 16 patients that developed a SSI (6.8%), of which 9 (3.8%) were deep and 7 (3%) were superficial infections. The multivariate analysis pointed out that surgery within one week after injury increased the chance of a SSI, as well as an ASA of 2 or higher and more than 150 cc of blood loss during the procedure.

CONCLUSION

This study confirms the low risk of SSI in DIACFs treated via STA. Significant predictors for SSIs were surgery within one week after injury, ASA of 2 or higher and blood loss > 150cc.

Incidence and Bacterial Etiologies of Surgical Site Infections in a Public Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Background:

Surgical Site Infections (SSIs) are among the frequently reported healthcare-acquired infections worldwide. Successful treatment of SSIs is affected by the continuous evolvement of drug-resistant microbes. This study investigated the incidence of SSIs, identifying the major etiologic agents and their drug resistance patterns in Yekatit 12 Hospital, Ethiopia.

Methods:

A cross-sectional study was conducted on 649 patients who underwent surgery at Yekatit 12 hospital from April 2016 to April 2017. Socio-demographic and clinical data were collected from each patient on admission. After surgery, they were followed for SSI occurrence. SSI was initially diagnosed by a senior surgeon based on standard clinical criteria and then confirmed by culture. Isolates were tested for drug resistance according to the clinical and laboratory standards institute guideline.

Results:

Of the 649 study participants, 56% were females. Their age ranged from 9 months to 88 years with a median age of 37 years. The incidence of culture-confirmed SSI was 10.2% (66/649) where 73 isolates were recovered. About two-third of the isolates were Gram-positive bacteria. Staphylococcus aureus was the most frequently isolated (27/73, 37%) followed by Coagulase-negative staphylococci (18/73, 24.7%), Escherichia coli (11/73, 15.1%) and Klebsiella species (10/73, 13.7%). About 89% and 44% of S. aureus isolates were resistant to penicillin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, respectively. MRSA constituted 11% of the S. aureus isolates. All the Gram-negative isolates were resistant to ampicillin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole but susceptible to amikacin and meropenem. Klebsiella species showed 70-100% resistance to ceftazidime, cefuroxime, augmentin, chloramphenicol, ciprofloxacin, cefepime and gentamicin. About 82% of E. coli isolates were resistant for chloramphenicol, cefepime, ceftazidime, augmentin, cefuroxime and 64% for gentamicin and ciprofloxacin.

Conclusion:

The incidence of surgical site infection in Yekatit 12 hospital is 10.2%. Most of the SSIs were due to Gram-positive bacteria. Gram-negative isolates showed high resistance to the most commonly prescribed drugs. No resistance was found for meropenem indicating the absence of carbapenem-resistant bacteria. SSI treatments should be guided by culture and drug resistance test. Better infection prevention practices and continuous surveillance of antimicrobial resistance in the hospital are recommended for better patient care.

Treatment of Partial Traumatic Hemipelvectomy: A Study of 21 Cases

BACKGROUND

Partial traumatic hemipelvectomy (THP) is a catastrophic and life-threatening injury caused by high-energy impact. With advances in prehospital resuscitative techniques, more patients now survive this disastrous injury; however, the management of partial THP still lacks well-established therapeutic protocols. The purpose of this study was to present our experience in managing partial THP in a level-I trauma center.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 21 consecutive patients with partial THP. The key points of successful treatment are hemorrhage control, proper decision-making regarding amputation, treatment of associated injuries, and infection control. Data on patient demographics, injury characteristics, surgical management, and outcomes were recorded and analyzed.

RESULTS

Eight female and 13 male patients with a mean age of 31.3 years met the diagnostic criteria. The mean follow-up was 51.9 months. Of 17 surviving patients, 7 underwent primary amputation; limbs were successfully preserved in 4; and 6 patients underwent secondary amputation because of infection, organ dysfunction, and limb necrosis. Two patients died during resuscitation, and 2 patients died after amputation. Phantom limb pain, infection, and skin flap necrosis were the major postoperative complications.

CONCLUSIONS

THP requires cooperative multidisciplinary emergency diagnosis and treatment, early surgical intervention, and definitive treatment. Rapid resuscitation, adequate hemostasis, early amputation, and repeated debridement may improve survival.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Risk Factors for Early Reoperation After Operative Treatment of Acetabular Fractures

OBJECTIVES

To identify the risk factors for early reoperation after operative fixation of acetabular fractures.

DESIGN

Retrospective evaluation.

SETTING

Level I Trauma Center.

PATIENTS

Seven hundred ninety-one patients with displaced acetabular fractures treated with open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) from 2006 to 2015. Average follow-up was 52 weeks.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Early reoperation after acetabular ORIF, defined as secondary procedure for infection or revision within 3 years of initial operation.

RESULTS

Fifty-six (7%) patients underwent irrigation and debridement for infection and wound complications. Four associated risk factors identified were length of stay in the intensive care unit, pelvic embolization, operative time, and time delay between injury and surgical fixation. Sixty-two (8%) patients underwent early revision, including 45 conversions to total hip arthroplasty, 10 revision ORIF, 6 fixation device removals because of concern for joint penetration (2 acutely and 4 > 6 months after surgery), and 1 stabilization procedure. Three risk factors associated with early revision were hip dislocation, articular comminution, and concomitant femoral head or neck injury. Combined injuries to the pelvic ring and acetabulum, fracture pattern, marginal impaction, and body mass index had no significant effect on early revision surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

Risk factors for early reoperation after operative fixation of acetabular fractures differed based on the reason for return to the operating room. Infection was more likely to occur in patients who had prolonged stays in the intensive care unit, had prolonged operative times, were embolized, or experienced delay in time to fixation. Revision was more likely with hip dislocation, articular comminution, femoral head or neck fracture, and advancing age.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Prognostic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

[Prevention of postoperative infections : Risk factors and the current WHO guidelines in musculoskeletal surgery]

BACKGROUND

Despite the many scientific and technological advances postoperative infection continues to be a large problem for trauma and orthopedic surgeons. Based on a review of the current literature, this study provides a comprehensive overview of the risk factors (RF) and possible preventive measures to control surgical site infections.

METHODS

Medline search and analysis from 1968-2017 (as of 01 March 2017). Selection of trauma and orthopedic relevant RFs and comparison with WHO recommendations (global guidelines for the prevention of surgical site infection, Nov. 2016).

RESULTS

Identification of 858 relevant articles from the last 50 years (1968-2017). Pooled postoperative rate of infection is 0.3% (hand surgery) and 19% (3rd degree open fractures). For open fractures, there is no clear tendency towards lower infection rates during the past five decades. Identification of 115 RF from three areas (patient-dependent RF, organizational and procedural RF, trauma- and surgery-dependent RF). The five most important RFs are body mass index over 35 kg/m², increased duration of surgery, diabetes mellitus, increased blood glucose levels in the perioperative period also in the case of nondiabetic patients, and errors in the perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis.

DISCUSSION

Inconsistent definition of "infection", interaction of the RF and the different follow-up duration limit the meaningfulness of the study.

CONCLUSION

In the future, considerable efforts must be made in order to achieve a noticeable reduction in the rate of infection, especially in the case of high-risk patients.

Microdialysis as a tool to determine the local tissue concentration of dicloxacillin in man

AIMS

The most common pathogen to cause postoperative infections in Denmark is Staphylococcus aureus. Despite using prophylactic antibiotics, infections are still seen. Whether the tissue concentration is above the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) for the pathogen is unknown. Thus, the concentration of dicloxacillin in muscle and adipose tissue was measured after intravenous administration, in healthy men.

METHODS

MIC for dicloxacillin against S. aureus was determined using the broth macrodilution method. A microdialysis (MD) catheter was placed in the subcutaneous tissue of the abdomen and in the lateral vastus muscle of the thigh of six healthy male volunteers. They were given 2 g dicloxacillin intravenously. Samples from blood and MD fluid were collected. The unbound dicloxacillin was isolated from plasma. Samples were analysed with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).

RESULTS

The maximum concentration was reached in muscle tissue after 0.5 h and in adipose tissue after 0.8 h. AUC_0-6h for the dicloxacillin concentration in adipose tissue was significantly lower when compared to the unbound dicloxacillin concentration in plasma. The dicloxacillin concentration was above the MIC for sensitive S. aureus for a minimum of 2.3 h and a median of 4.1 h in muscle tissue and a minimum of 1.8 h and a median of 3.2 h in adipose tissue.

CONCLUSIONS

The unbound dicloxacillin concentration in adipose and muscle tissue remained above the MIC for sensitive S. aureus, for a period sufficient for many orthopaedic procedures. Whether this is true in patients with compromised circulation remains to be investigated.

Surgical Site Infection Following Fixation of Acetabular Fractures

PURPOSE

Acetabular fractures are mainly caused by high energy trauma. Surgical fixation of these fractures requires extensive surgical exposure which increases the length of operation and blood loss as well. This may increase the risk of surgical site infection. Our aim is to evaluate the prevalence of surgical site infections and the risk factors associated with it so as to minimize its chances.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 261 patients who underwent acetabular fracture surgery were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were divided into 2 groups, with or without surgical site infection. Factors examined include patients' gender, age, body mass index (BMI), time between injury and surgery, operative time, estimated blood loss, number of packed red blood cell transfused, length of total intensive care unit (ICU) stay, fracture type, surgical approach, smoking status, patients' comorbids and associated injuries.

RESULTS

Fourteen patients (5.4%) developed surgical site infection. Out of 14 infections, 4 were superficial and 10 were deep. The factors that were found to be associated with surgical site infection following acetabular fracture fixation were prolonged operation time, increased BMI, prolonged ICU stay, larger amount of packed red blood cell transfused and associated genitourinary and abdominal trauma.

CONCLUSION

In our study, we conclude that measures should be undertaken to attenuate the chances of surgical site infection in this major surgery by considering the risk factors significantly associated with it.

Operative management of acetabulum fractures in the obese patient: challenges and solutions

In this review, we aim to increase our knowledge of the treatment of acetabular fractures in the obese patient population. The extremely high incidence of obesity in the USA is a looming health care concern that impacts aspects of health care in all medical specialties. There are specific concerns to the orthopedic surgeon when treating obese patients for acetabular fracture. Patients with body mass index ≥30 present particular challenges to the surgeon in terms of preexisting medical conditions, diagnostic imaging, and perioperative complications. Specifically, this patient population experiences worse functional outcomes and greater incidence of surgical site infection, intraoperative blood loss, deep venous thrombosis, post-traumatic osteoarthritis, heterotopic ossification, and increased hospital length of stay. These problems are further exacerbated in the morbidly obese, as a scaling effect exists between increasing body mass index and worsening complication profile. This is problematic given the current high incidence of morbid obesity in the USA and particularly worrisome in light of the projected increase in obesity rates for the future.

Results of 167 consecutive cases of acetabular fractures using the Kocher-Langenbeck approach: a case series

Background

Acetabular fractures are quite challenging injuries for the orthopedic surgeon because of their low incidence and their deep and complex anatomy. The objective of this study was to evaluate surgeon-independent parameters that might influence radiographic outcome and early complication rates of high-energy acetabular fractures treated by open reduction and internal fixation via the Kocher-Langenbeck approach, the golden standard for posterior access.

Methods

One hundred sixty-seven consecutive patients (111 males and 56 females) with a mean age of 41.8 years and a mean follow-up period of 10 months were surgically treated by one experienced surgeon at a level I trauma center within 10 years. To quantify the radiographic outcome, the Matta, Brooker, and Epstein grades were used. Posttraumatic arthritis and avascular necrosis of the femoral head (defined as Helfet grades 3 or 4 and Ficat/Arlet stages 3 or 4, respectively) were evaluated. Furthermore, subgroup analyses according to fracture type, age, and gender were performed for each outcome measure and complication (infection, hemorrhagic shock, revision surgery, nerve damage, and need of a total hip arthroplasty).

Results

65 A1, 34 A2, 51 B1, and 17 B2 fractures were identified according to the AO/ASIF classification. Of all patients, reduction was rated anatomic in 63.5%, imperfect in 22.2%, and poor in 14.4%. Degenerative changes were observed in 49.7%; 37.9% were affected by heterotopic ossification, 21.6% by posttraumatic arthritis, and 5.4% by avascular necrosis of the femoral head. Fifteen percent were diagnosed with a nerve damage, and 4.8% sustained an infection. Total hip arthroplasty was performed in 10.2%. Revision surgery due to secondary loss of reduction, seroma/hematoma, and wound infection was indicated in 6.0%.

Conclusions

Fracture type, age, and gender are prognostic factors for the surgical outcome after ORIF of high-energy acetabular fractures.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13018-017-0563-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

A Novel Approach for Treatment of Acetabular Fractures

Background

There is no single approach that provides adequate exposure for treatment of all types of acetabular fractures. We describe our experience with an easier, relatively less invasive pubic symphysis approach (PSA) for the treatment of acetabular fractures.

Material/Methods

Between March 2011 and March 2012, fifteen patients with acetabular fracture underwent surgery using the PSA technique. Fracture reduction and treatment outcomes were assessed by clinical and radiological examination. Operation time, intraoperative blood loss and postoperative complications were documented.

Results

Mean operative time was 222±78 minutes. Average blood loss was 993±361 mL. Anatomical reduction was achieved in all patients. Minimum follow-up period was 31 months. Postoperative hypoesthesia in the area of innervation of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve was reported in one patient, with spontaneous recovery at one month after surgery. No complications were reported during the follow-up period. At the most recent follow up, clinical outcomes were graded as “excellent” in six patients, “good” in eight patients and “fair” in one patient based on the modified Merle d’Aubigné-Postel score.

Conclusions

PSA appears to be a timesaving and safe approach for treatment of acetabular fractures that affords good visual access and allows for excellent fracture reduction. Our preliminary results revealed a much lower incidence of complications than traditional approaches, suggesting PSA is an alternative for treatment of acetabular fractures.

Impact of Infection on Fracture Fixation

Surgical site infection can be a devastating complication that results in significant morbidity in patients who undergo operative fixation of fractures. Reducing the rate of infection and wound complications in high-risk trauma patients by giving early effective antibiotics, improving soft tissue management, and using antiseptic techniques is a common topic of discussion. Despite heightened awareness, there has not been a significant reduction in surgical site infection over the past 40 years. Patients should be treated aggressively to eliminate or suppress the infection, heal the fracture if there is a nonunion, and maintain the function of the patient.