An audit on factors influencing infection in operated ankle fractures

A prospective 1-year audit was carried out on consecutive patients admitted to a district general hospital of the UK with ankle fractures needing open reduction internal fixation in order to analyse the factors affecting infection. Ninety seven percent patients had had their operative procedure within 24 h from the time of injury. Eighty four percent patients were discharged in less than 7 days period from the day of admission. All but one patient received antibiotic prophylaxis in accordance with local microbiology policy guidelines. Four out of 32 patients received therapeutic antibiotics for wound cellulitis/superficial infection. No patient had a deep infection, osteomyelitis or septic arthritis. Complex ankle trauma, post-radiography preliminary reduction of ankle fracture-dislocation in the emergency department, prolonged operating time, delayed surgery, persistent ankle swelling and unsupervised operation were common denominators in four cases with infection in ankle fracture fixation. © 2006 Springer-Verlag.