Title : Incidence of Surgical Site Infection (SSI) in patients aged 60 or above, who underwent operative fixation / prosthetic replacement for fractures of the neck and trochanter of femur
Abstract:
Background: Post-operative surgical site infection following orthopaedic implant surgery is a major complication and the incidence ranges from 1-2% to 22% (2). Surgical site infection is a devastating complication and may be difficult to treat. The surgical site infections impose financial burden to the patient, grossly reduces his quality of life as well as increase the mortality.
Method: This prospective study was conducted on 107 patients aged 60 or above undergoing operative fixation / prosthetic replacement for fractures of the neck and trochanter of femur in KIMSHEALTH, Trivandrum during the period of November 2020 to June 2022.
Results: The surgical site infection was diagnosed in 2 (1.9%) patients within 3 months after surgery. Klebsiella pneumoniae was an infective organism isolated in both cases and Acinetobacter baumannii also isolated in one case.
Conclusion: From this study, it can be conclude that our institute is very particular in ensuring adequate aseptic precautions to prevent SSI. As this study could not find any statistically significant preoperative risk factors, which cause Surgical Site Infection. It is suggested that it needs further detailed study to find out the risk factors causing Surgical Site Infection and methods to prevent it.
