Prognostic risk factors of surgical site infection after primary joint arthroplasty: A retrospective cohort study

Surgical site infection (SSI) can be a devastating complication in joint arthroplasty. Objective of this study was to identify potential risk factors associated with SSI following primary joint arthroplasty. This retrospective cohort study was performed from January 2016 to October 2017. A total of 986 patients were enrolled. We extracted the patients’ baseline information, treatment-related variables and indexes of laboratory examination during their hospitalization. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed to find the optimum cut-off value for serum albumin. Univariate and multivariate logistic analysis models were performed respectively to determine independent predictors of SSI. Nine hundred eighty-six patients with complete data were included in the final analysis. There were 314 male and 672 females in this study with a mean age of 64.6 years, and twenty patients developed SSI. The overall incidence of SSI was 2.03%, with 0.20% for deep infection and 1.83% for superficial SSI. Independent predictors of SSI identified by multivariate analysis were ALB < 36.7 g/L (odds ratio = 3.42; 95% CI = 1.24–9.48; P = .018), BMI ≥28 (odds ratio = 5.08; 95%CI = 1.52–17.01; P = .008) and ASA class 3 or higher (odds ratio = 3.36; 95% CI = 1.22–9.30; P = .019). Drain use was demonstrated as a protective factor of postoperative wound healing. The incidence of SSI following primary joint arthroplasty was 2.03%. ASA ≥3, BMI ≥28 and ALB < 36.7 g/L were demonstrated as risk factors of postoperative wound infection. Supplementary nutrition support is necessary to reduce the risk of infection in patients who underwent artificial joint arthroplasty.