Closed incision negative pressure therapy decreases complications after periprosthetic fracture surgery around the hip and knee.

INTRODUCTION: Periprosthetic fractures (PPFXs) are becoming increasingly common following total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Patients sustaining PPFXs face considerable perioperative morbidity, with relatively increased rates of surgical site infection. We sought to evaluate the efficacy of closed-incision negative-pressure wound therapy (ciNPT) in decreasing perioperative wound complications following lower extremity periprosthetic fracture surgery.

METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of 69 consecutive patients who underwent surgery to address lower extremity periprosthetic fractures around hip or knee implants performed over a 6.5-year period. The population was divided into two groups based on the surgical dressing used at the conclusion of the procedure: (1) a sterile, antimicrobial hydrofiber dressing, or (2) ciNPT. There were no baseline demographic differences between the two groups. Rates of wound complications, surgical site infection, and reoperation related to the surgical site were compared between groups. Continuous variables were analyzed using a student's t-test, and categorical variables using either chi-square or fisher's exact test.

RESULTS: Patients treated with ciNPT developed fewer wound complications (4% vs. 35%; p=0.002), fewer deep infections (0% vs. 25%; p=0.004), and underwent fewer reoperations related to the surgical site (4% vs. 25%; p=0.021) compared to patients treated with standard of care.

CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that ciNPT may reduce wound complications, SSIs, and reoperations in patients undergoing lower extremity periprosthetic fracture surgery. This is the first study to investigate ciNPT as a treatment for periprosthetic fracture surgery, and has the potential to change the postoperative management of these patients.