Vol. 10, Issue 3 (2024)

Background: Surgical site infections (SSIs) represent one of the most prevalent complications associated with surgical procedures, leading to extended hospital stays. Specifically, SSIs can prolong hospitalization by an average of 7 to 12 days and significantly elevate the likelihood of readmission, with a 60% increased risk of requiring intensive care unit admission. Furthermore, these infections contribute to heightened healthcare costs and an increased rate of mortality. 
Aim of the work: This study aimed to assess the incidence of early postoperative infections in orthopedic surgery and to evaluate prophylactic strategies to mitigate their occurrence. 
Patients and methods: This prospective investigation involved 2,369 patients who underwent orthopedic surgical procedures at the Orthopedic Surgery Department, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, from March 2023 to March 2024. The patients were categorized into two groups: Group A comprised 1,546 patients who received emergency surgical interventions at the Emergency Hospital of Tanta University. Group B included 823 patients who underwent elective surgery at Tanta University Hospitals.
Results: In this study, the incidence of SSIs was (14.18%). 63.9% of them suffer from superficial infection, while 36.1% suffer from deep infection that needs surgical intervention. The incidence of infection following elective orthopedic surgery was (8%) while that following emergency surgeries was (17.4%).