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.