Isolated Ulnar Fractures Postoperative Infection: Incidence and Possible Causes

Abstract

Background: Isolated ulnar shaft fractures are frequently caused by direct trauma to the ulna while the arm is raised overhead in defence against a blow; hence, they are frequently referred to as "nightstick fractures." The aim of this work was to assess the possible causes and incidence of postoperative infection following isolated ulnar fractures treatment.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 40 patients aged from 20 to 65 years old, both sexes, and approved from the Ethical Committee Orthopedic Surgery Department in Banha University Hospital on isolated ulnar fractures patients treated with open reduction and internal fixation for 7 months. Patients were further subdivided into two groups according to incidence of infection to surgical site infection (SSI) group (n=12), and no SSI group (n=28).Results: There were statistically significant association was detected between SSI and old age, DM, smoking, low surgeon volume, long operating time, anaemia, leucocytosis, low serum albumin, and hyperglycaemia. Smoking (OR, 4.55; P, 0.020), low surgeon volume (OR, 3.44; P, 0.021), operation time longer than 120 minutes (OR, 3.95; P, 0.015), albumin lower than 35 g/L (OR, 6.48; P, 0.001), and RBS more than 200 mg/dl (OR, 6.20; P, 0.001) were detected as major independent postoperative SSI risk factors.Conclusions: As demonstrated in our study, smoking, open fracture, low surgeon volume, operation time longer than 120 minutes, albumin lower than 35 g/L, and RBS more than 200 mg/dl were detected as major independent postoperative SSI risk factors .