Risk factors for postoperative infection after open wedge high tibial osteotomy: an analysis of 114 cases

Abstract

Objective To investigate the risk factors of postoperative infection after open wedge high tibial osteotomy (OWHTO). Methods Clinical data of 114 patients who underwent primary OWHTO in a Class A tertiary hospital from August 2017 to October 2020 were collected and retrospectively analyzed, and all of them completed regular postoperative follow-up. The patients were divided into control group and infection group according to the presence or absence of postoperative infection. Univariate and logistic regression analyses were used to explore the risk factors of infection after OWHTO. Results Among the 114 patients included in the study, 31 cases had postoperative infection, of which 20 cases were controlled within 2 weeks after operation, and the symptoms of infection were eliminated in the other 11 cases about 4 weeks postoperatively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that diabetes mellitus (P=0.001), smoking (P < 0.001), osteotomy clearance ≥10 mm (P=0.001), bone graft (P=0.001), and operation duration longer than 3 h (P < 0.001) were independent risk factors for postoperative infection (P < 0.05). Conclusion The patients with diabetes mellitus, smoking, osteotomy space ≥10 mm, intraoperative graft and operation time ≥3 h have a higher risk of infection after OWHTO.

Keywords

• open wedge high tibial osteotomy
• infection
• risk factors