Effect of anesthetic management on total joint SSIs

Editor's Note

Though recent studies using large databases have concluded that neuraxial compared with general anesthesia is associated with a decreased incidence of SSIs in total joint patients, this 11-year retrospective, controlled study found no difference.

The use of peripheral nerve blocks also was not found to influence the incidence of SSIs.

The factors that were associated with SSIs were higher body mass index (BMI) and current smoking. 

BACKGROUND: Surgical site infection (SSI) is one of the most challenging and costly complications associated with total joint arthroplasty. Our primary aim in this case-controlled trial was to compare the risk of SSI within a year of surgery for patients undergoing primary total knee arthroplasty...