Patient-Related Risk Factors for Infection Following Ulnar Nerve Release at the Cubital Tunnel: An Analysis of 15,188 Cases

BACKGROUND: Although cubital tunnel release is a commonly performed orthopaedic procedure, the overall incidence of and independent risk factors for infection largely remain undefined in the current literature. PURPOSE: To establish the rate of postoperative infection after isolated cubital tunnel release and define relevant patient-related risk factors. STUDY DESIGN: Case-control study; Level 3. METHODS: All Medicare-insured patients undergoing ulnar nerve decompression at the cubital tunnel from 2010 through 2012 were identified. A multivariate binomial logistic regression analysis was utilized to evaluate the impact of patient-related risk factors for postoperative infection. RESULTS: A total of 330 (2.17%) postoperative infections were identified in 15,188 cases. The majority (87%) were managed nonoperatively, while 13% required surgical debridement. The most significant risk factors for infection included hemodialysis use (odds ratio [OR], 2.47), chronic anemia (OR, 2.24), age <65 years (OR, 2.08), tobacco use (OR, 1.65), morbid obesity (OR, 1.53), inflammatory arthritis (OR, 1.43), depression (OR, 1.36), hyperlipidemia (OR, 1.33), male sex (OR, 1.32), and chronic lung disease (OR, 1.29). CONCLUSION: The present study was adequately powered to determine numerous patient-related risk factors for infection following cubital tunnel release.