Risk factors for surgical site infections in patients with pilon fractures: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Pilon is a severe ankle fracture, and surgical site infections is an important postoperative complication that often leads to catastrophic consequences. Understanding its risk factors is crucial for optimizing patient outcomes and improving clinical management strategies.

Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library for prospective and retrospective studies related to surgical site infections in patients with Pilon fractures, covering the period from January 2000 to March 2025. Following the screening and quality assessment of eligible studies, data were extracted and a meta-analysis was conducted utilizing Stata 16.0 and RevMan 5.3 software.

Result: Ten studies involving 4,120 patients were included in the analysis. The meta-analysis revealed that the pooled incidence of surgical site infections was 17 % (95 % CI: 12 %-23 %). Significant risk factors identified for surgical site infections in patients with Pilon fractures included age, diabetes, hypertension, albumin, open fracture, AO/OTA fracture type(≥C), preoperative hospital stay, and surgical duration.

Conclusion: This study identified several significant risk factors linked to surgical site infections in patients with Pilon fractures. Surgeons should closely monitor high-risk populations, optimize perioperative management, and implement effective preventive measures to prevent unnecessary complications.