Incidence and risk factors for surgical site infection following open reduction and internal fixation of adult tibial plateau fractures.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to identify independent risk factors for surgical site infection (SSI) and quantify the incidence of SSI in tibial plateau fractures after open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF).

METHODS

This retrospective study was performed at a level 1 trauma centre from January 2015 to June 2016. Data of adult patients with tibial plateau fractures treated by ORIF were extracted from the electronic medical records. A total of 370 patients were collected. We reviewed the patients' demographics, characteristics of fracture, treatment-related variables, and indexes of laboratory examination. Multivariate logistic analysis models were performed respectively to determine independent predictors of SSI.

RESULTS

Twenty-one patients developed SSI in this study. The overall incidence of SSI after ORIF of tibial fracture was 5.7%, with six (1.6%) for deep infection and 15 (4.1%) for superficial SSI. Independent predictors of SSI identified by multivariate analysis were open fracture (odds ratio=4.53; 95% CI=1.64-15.26; p=0.000), intra-operative duration (odds ratio=2.72; 95% CI=1.17-6.29; p=0.020), and smoking (odds ratio=4.79; 95% CI=1.46-15.73; p=0.010).

CONCLUSIONS

The SSI incidence was high (5.7%) after surgical tibial plateau fractures by ORIF and open fracture, operative time, and smoking were identified as independent related risk factors. Therefore, we recommend that a smoking cessation program is introduced immediately at the time of admission to hospital. More reasonable management strategies on open injury should be utilized to reduce the SSI rate.