Rates, risk factors, costs of SSIs after TKA

Editor's Note

This study led by the Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, examines the longitudinal rates, risk factors, and costs of superficial and deep incisional surgical site infections (SSIs) after primary and revision total knee arthroplasties (TKAs).

A total of 26,097 primary TKA patients and 3,663 revision TKA patients were analyzed.

At postoperative follow-up:

• 0.65% of primary TKA patients had a deep incisional SSI, and 0.82% had a superficial incisional SSI.
• 10.44% of revision TKA patients had a deep incisional SSI, and 2.60% had a superficial incisional SSI.

Infections were linked to male gender and multiple comorbidities, including chronic pulmonary disease, pulmonary circulatory disorders, fluid and electrolyte disorders, malnutrition, drug abuse, and depression.

Costs ranged from $14,298 to $29,176 for superficial SSIs and from $41,381 to $59,491 for deep incisional SSIs.

The findings show that SSIs occurred most frequently after revision total knee arthroplasties and in patients with pulmonary comorbidities and depression; the associated costs were substantial, the researchers say.