ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
To characterize arthroplasty procedures, calculate the surgical infection rate and identify related risk factors.
METHODS:
This was a retrospective cohort study. Data on operations performed between 2010 and 2012 were gathered from documental sources and were analyzed with the aid of statistical software, using Fisher's exact test, Student'sttest and the nonparametric Mann-Whitney and Wilcoxon tests.
RESULTS:
421 total arthroplasty procedures performed on 346 patients were analyzed, of which 208 were on the knee and 213 on the hip. It was found that 18 patients (4.3%) were infected. Among these, 15 (83.33%) were reoperated and 2 (15.74%) died. The prevalence of infection in primary total hip arthroplasty procedures was 3%; in primary total knee arthroplasty, 6.14%; and in revision of total knee arthroplasty, 3.45%. Staphylococcus aureuswas prevalent. The length of the surgical procedure showed a tendency toward being a risk factor ( p= 0.067).
CONCLUSION:
The prevalence of infection in cases of primary total knee arthroplasty was greater than in other cases. No statistically significant risk factors for infection were identified.
Keywords:
Patient safety; Hospital infection; Arthroplasty; Intraoperative care; Epidemiology
