Implants are used to stabilize fractures and are often removed at a later stage for various reasons. Indications for implant removal mainly consist of pain, functional impairment, prominent material or at patients request [1]. Removal can result in pain relief, improvement in function and a high rate of patient satisfaction [2, 3]. Implant removal is a frequently performed procedure and it accounts for up to 29% of all elective surgery and 6.3% of orthopedic surgical interventions [4].

Antibiotic prophylaxis is administered prior to placement of implants in order to lower the rate of postoperative wound infection (POWI) [5]. However, it is not a common practice to administer antibiotic prophylaxis before implant removal. This is because, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention classification of surgical wounds, implant removal is considered as a ‘clean’ procedure [6]. The effect of pre-operative antibiotics are disputed in clean wounds, as there is lack of evidence that they decrease the rate of POWI of 2% [6].

Remarkably, in contrast to literature on infectious complications following elective fracture surgery such as open reduction and internal fixation, there is a paucity in the literature on rates of POWI following implant removal (Table 1) [2, 7-13].

The aim of the current study was to assess the incidence of postoperative wound infection following elective implant removal in a Level 1 and Level 2 Trauma Center and to evaluate possible risk factors.

We conducted a retrospective cohort study of all consecutive adult orthopedic trauma patients in two hospitals (Level 1 and Level 2 Trauma Center) who had their implants removed following fracture healing. The electronic hospital databases were searched from 2007 to 2012 for all procedures with implant removal using the appropriate surgical procedure coding reference. The start of the inclusion period coincided with the introduction of electronic medical charts.

We excluded patients with implant removal because of an ongoing infectious complication (persistent infection or chronic plate fistula) and patients with removal as part of a new procedure (e.g. non-union) from the analysis.

Patient-characteristics (gender, age, BMI, ASA-classification, type of fracture) and peri-operative characteristics (time interval from index procedure to implant removal, surgical experience (senior or resident), duration of surgery, administration of antibiotic prophylaxis and type of wound closure (subdivided into intra- and transcutaneous) were obtained from the electronic charts.

Patients were seen within four weeks postoperatively in the outpatient clinic where a wound inspection was performed. The primary outcome, POWI, was subdivided in superficial or deep by applying the criteria of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [6]. A POWI was considered superficial if amendable for treatment with oral antibiotics and was considered as deep when treated with intravenous antibiotics or surgical wound debridement. Bacterial cultures were obtained postoperatively in the surgical ward or in the outpatient clinic and were recorded. They were collected on suspicion of a POWI (dry swab). The occurrence of wound dehiscence was documented, which was diagnosed by wound inspection or a negative culture.

Patient and peri-operative characteristics were compared between patients with and without POWI.

A total of 452 patients with 512 procedures were included. Patient- and perioperative characteristics are presented in Table 2.

Ten percent of patients (N=51) suffered from a superficial POWI and 1.6% (N=8) from a deep POWI. Of these eight patients one patient was treated with intravenous (iv) antibiotics. Seven patients were treated with iv antibiotics and surgical debridement. One of these patients was treated with surgical debridement three times. Forty-one of 51 patients with superficial POWI were treated with oral antibiotics. A wound dehiscence occurred in 37 patients (7.2%).

In 51 patients (10.2%) iv antibiotic prophylaxis was administered prior to implant removal. Five of these patients (9.8%) developed a POWI, which were all superficial infections. Unfortunately, the reason for administration of antibiotic prophylaxis was not routinely documented.

Seventy-three procedures (14.3%) were performed in the upper extremity with four POWIs (5.5%) versus 439 procedures in the lower extremity (85.7%) with 55 POWIs (12.5%) (Fig. 1). Given the current number of patients surgery performed in the lower extremity was not significantly associated with an increased risk of POWI (p=0.151).

Fig. (1). The number of implant removals per body part (left) and the corresponding number and rate of postoperative wound infections (right).

Fifteen of 71 patients (21.2%) with a POWI following the index procedure developed a POWI following implant removal versus 44 patients following 381 uncomplicated procedures (11.5%) (p=0.014). Cultures were taken in 10 of these 15 patients, of which half showed the same micro-organism; a Staphylococcus aureus.

A POWI occurred more often in younger patients with a median age of 36 against 43 without a POWI (p=0.004). No association was found with gender, BMI, ASA-classification, smoking, diabetes mellitus, duration to implant removal, surgical experience or type of wound closure (Table 2).

Rates of POWI following implant removal from the upper and lower extremity in the current studies were 5.5% and 12.5%, respectively. These rates are consistent with rates in a recent prospective study of 6% and 10% [13]. Other retrospective studies show POWI rates of 9.2% following syndesmotic screw removal and 19% following calcaneal implant removal [14, 15]. However, overall a lower POWI rate than 11.6% is reported in literature (Table 1).

The high rate in the current study might be the result of the relatively high number of lower extremity surgery (85.7%) compared to upper extremity surgery (14.3%). In the foot and ankle region the bones are more prominent due to the limited soft tissue coverage (as compared to other bones with extensive muscle coverage). For example, after plating of the fibula in ankle fractures the plates are removed in about 27-36% of patients and following a calcaneal fracture almost 50% of patients have their implant removed [11, 16-18].

Remarkably, when looking at POWI following elective orthopedic surgery lower rates (0-5.4%) are found compared to implant removal [5, 19-28]. This might be the result of the instant use, full range of motion and weight-bearing of a limb following implant removal compared to fracture surgery, when patients are asked to build up exercise. In addition, it is a secondary procedure through scar tissue.

Importantly, the occurrence of POWI following fracture surgery was associated with the occurrence of POWI following implant removal. This information might be of help to the clinician or patient in decision making on implant removal.

Our results show that relatively younger patients are more susceptible to a POWI. This could be a result of a higher level of activity or earlier motion of younger patients compared to older patients. Earlier motion is associated with an increased risk of wound infection [29].

Finallly, in 10.2% of patients antibiotic prophylaxis was administered preoperatively. This was most likely the result of the surgeon’s preference. This missing information is a drawback inherent to the retrospective character and the main limitation of the current study.

In conclusion, the incidence of POWI following implant removal in a Level 1 and Level 2 Trauma Center is 11.6%. Risk factors for POWI following implant removal are a previous infection after initial fracture management and younger age. The results of the current study will be used in a prospective study on the effects of antibiotic prophylaxis prior to implant removal on a POWI (www.clinicaltrials.gov).