Background: Tibial plateau fractures (TPF) can be a life changing injury. Surgical site infection (SSI) occur in 3-10% and is a feared complication. Aim of this study was to evalute the impact of SSI to outcome in patients with operatively treated TPF.
Methods: We conducted a retrospective multicenter study in seven participating countries. Between January 2005 and December 2014 all participating centers have followed up patients with SSI. In addition, three centers followed up patients without SSI as a reference group. Descriptive data and follow up data with patient reported outcome scores (KOOS, Lysholm) were evaluated. Statistic analyses were performed with IBM SPSS and two-sided tests to the significance level of α = 0.05.
Results: In summary, 287 patients (41 with SSI and 246 without SSI) with an average follow-up of 75.9 ± 35.9 months were included in this study. Patients with a SSI had a significant poorer Outcome in KOOS5 (48.7 ± 23.2 vs. 71.5 ± 23.5; p < 0.001) and Lysholm (51.4 ± 24.0 vs. 71.4 ± 23.5; p < 0.001) compared to patients without SSI. This significant difference was also evident in the KOOS subscores pain (57.9 ± 22,9 vs. 75.0 ± 22.3; p < 0.001), symptoms (54.5 ± 28.8 vs. 75.4 ± 23.4; p < 0.001), ADL (48.8 ± 27.5 vs. 80.5 ± 22.6; p < 0.001) and QOL (37.8 ± 31.5 vs. 56.4 ± 30.2; p = 0.001).
Conclusion: Patients with SSI differed significantly from patients without SSI in terms of gender, smoking and drug addiction. The trauma-associated data showed a significant difference in the severity of fracture morphology, concomitant injuries (especially open fracture and compartment syndrome), and the incidence of polytraumata. In terms of PRO, a significantly poorer outcome was recorded in patients with SSI.