Infections Following Orthopedic Surgery: Key Risk Factors to Know!

Deep surgical site infections (DSSIs) following orthopedic interventions are a common complication that can delay healing and hinder patient recovery. These infections affect deep tissues and may result in persistent pain, prolonged hospital stays, and additional interventions. They also increase medical costs due to extended treatments and intensive care. In the long term, DSSIs can impair mobility and reduce patients’ quality of life. 

This study investigates the risk factors associated with the occurrence of DSSIs after orthopedic trauma surgeries. The aim is to better understand variables such as underlying medical conditions, surgical practices, and injury characteristics that may contribute to the development of these severe infections.

What Are the Main Risk Factors for DSSIs?

Researchers analyzed data from 22,318 patients, of whom 894 developed DSSIs, to identify the factors predisposing patients to these severe infections. The primary risk factors identified include:

• Male sex (OR = 1.99)
• Active smoking (OR = 2.60)
• Open injuries (OR = 3.17)
• Body Mass Index (BMI) over 26.0 kg/m² (OR = 1.95)
• Wound class ≥2 (OR = 2.40)
• Surgery duration exceeding 60 minutes (OR = 2.41)

 

Toward Better Infection Management

This study demonstrates that various factors, including underlying medical conditions, surgical practices, and injury characteristics, play a critical role in the development of DSSIs. The findings encourage measures such as weight loss and smoking cessation before surgery to optimize surgical procedures and improve wound management.