Diabetes is associated with an increased risk of wound complications and readmission in patients with surgically managed pressure ulcers.

The effect of diabetes on postoperative outcomes following surgical management of pressure ulcers is poorly defined despite evidence showing that patients with diabetes are at increased risk for developing pressure ulcers, as well as postoperative wound complications including delayed healing and infection. This study aimed to examine the impact of diabetes on postoperative outcomes following surgical management of pressure ulcers using the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) database. In this retrospective analysis all CPT codes with ICD-9 diagnoses of pressure ulcers were reviewed. A total of 3,274 patients who underwent surgical management of pressure ulcers were identified, of which 1,040 (31.8%) had diabetes. Overall primary outcomes showed rates of superficial and deep incisional surgical site infection (SSI) were 2.0 and 4.2%, respectively, while the rate of wound dehiscence was 2.1%. Univariate analysis of primary outcomes stratified by diabetes status showed that patients with diabetes had significantly higher rates of superficial incisional SSI (3.9 vs. 2.3%; p = 0.01), deep incisional SSI (7.0 vs. 4.3%; p = 0.001), wound dehiscence (5.2 vs. 2.7%; p < 0.001), as well as significantly higher rates of readmission (12.8 vs. 8.9%; p = 0.001). Multivariate analysis for significant outcomes between groups on univariate analysis demonstrated that diabetes was an independent risk factor for superficial incisional SSI (OR = 2.7; 95% CI: 1.59-4.62; p < 0.001), deep incisional SSI (OR = 1.85; 95% CI: 1.26-2.70; p = 0.002), wound dehiscence (OR = 4.09; 95% CI: 2.49-6.74; p < 0.001), and readmission within 30 days (OR = 1.38; 95% CI: 1.05-1.82; p = 0.02). These findings emphasize the importance of preoperative prevention, and vigilant postoperative wound care and monitoring in patients with diabetes to minimize morbidity and optimize outcomes. Future prospective studies are needed to establish causality between diabetes and these outcomes.