Factors associated with early fracture related infection among adult patients with malleolar fractures treated by open reduction and internal fixation at Muhimbili Orthopaedic Institute.

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background: Ankle fractures contribute 10% of all fractures and are the most frequent fractures encountered by orthopaedic surgeons. Ankle fractures represent 14% of all fractures requiring hospitalization and 21% of all injuries due to sports. With the advancement of technology and availability of trained orthopaedic surgeons ORIF of malleolar fracture is done of which early fracture-related infection and its associated risk factors are not well documented in our region Aim: To determine factors associated with early fracture related infection among adult patients with malleolar fractures treated by open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) at Muhimbili Orthopaedic Institute. Materials and Methods: This was a prospective observational study involving skeletally matured patients aged 18 years and above whose clinical and radiological examination confirmed the diagnosis of malleolar fractures and they were treated by ORIF. Data collection was done after obtaining informed consent of the participants with the use of a data extraction sheet and questionnaire. Following treatment, patients were followed up for review 2 weeks postoperatively. During the follow-up period patient were assessed in terms of early fracture related infection then correlated with risk factors. Data collection was done by the investigator then cleaned and analyzed by using SPSS version 24 Result: 10% of patients with malleolar fractures developed early fracture related infection following ORIF out of 100 patients. A univariate and multivariate analysis showed that male gender, alcohol intake, diabetes mellitus and open fracture were the independent predictors of early fracture related infection at Muhimbili Orthopaedic Institute. Conclusion: Factors associated with early fracture related infection among patient with malleolar fractures following ORIF at Muhimbili Orthopedic Insitute are male gender, alcohol intake, diabetes mellitus and open fracture. The result of the current study may in this regard serve as baseline reference for further studies with large sample size.