A study on incidence of early surgical site infections in postoperative orthopaedic cases

Background: Surgical site infection (SSI) has always been a major complication of surgery and trauma and has been documented for 4000-5000 years. The present study analysed the various organisms causing infections and to study the incidence of surgical site infections in postoperative orthopaedic cases in tertiary care hospital in India. Materials & Methods: The present study comprised of 100 orthopaedic cases of both genders in the department of Orthopaedics at a tertiary care centre. Patients with wound infection (pain or tenderness, localized swelling, redness or heat), a sample was taken of surgical site and transported to the microbiology laboratory for culture. Any surgical site infection (increased tempt, redness, discharge, suture gaping, and Southampton wound scoring system) was recorded. Follow up on post op day 3, 6, 14 and 30 days was performed. Southampton wound grading system was followed. Results: Open reduction internal fixation surgeries were performed the most (22%), followed by plating (20%), dynamic hip screw placement (14%) and fixation by nailing (10%). Arthroplasty and tendon repair were done in 8% patients each. Fixation using proximal femoral nail, total knee replacement and total hip replacement were done in 7%, 6% and 5% patients respectively. SSI positive was seen among 14% and SSI negative in 86%. Conclusion: The incidence of SSI in orthopaedics and trauma patients was comparable with the reported incidence in the literature.