Study of incidence of postoperative wound infection in orthopaedic surgery: A retrospective observational study.

Authors

  • Rajesh Kumar Assistant Professor, Department of Orthopaedics, Katihar Medical College, Katihar, Bihar, India
  • Ajay Kumar Mahto Professor & HOD, Department of Orthopaedics, Katihar Medical College, Katihar, Bihar, India.
  • Akif Jilani Senior Resident, Department of Orthopaedics, Katihar Medical College, Katihar, Bihar, India.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51168/qbenyz45

Keywords:

postoperative wound infection, surgical site infection, orthopaedic surgery, incidence, risk factors, retrospective study, infection control

Abstract

Background
Postoperative wound infection, or surgical site infection (SSI), is an important complication following orthopaedic surgery and may result in delayed wound healing, prolonged hospitalization, and additional treatment. This study evaluated the incidence of postoperative wound infection and associated demographic, clinical, and surgical factors.

 Objective

To determine the incidence of postoperative wound infection among patients undergoing orthopaedic surgery and evaluate associated risk factors.

 Materials and Methods

A retrospective observational study was conducted in the Department of Orthopaedics, Katihar Medical College, Katihar, Bihar, India. Hospital records of patients who underwent orthopaedic surgery between February 2024 and February 2025 were reviewed. A total of 100 eligible patients with complete perioperative records were included. Demographic characteristics, comorbidities, surgical characteristics, wound classification, implant use, microbiological findings, treatment, and clinical outcomes were evaluated.

 Results

Postoperative wound infection occurred in 12 of 100 patients, giving an overall incidence of 12.0%. Infection was more frequent among patients with diabetes mellitus, prolonged operative duration, open fractures, implant-related procedures, and contaminated wounds. Staphylococcus aureus was the most commonly isolated microorganism. Most infections were successfully managed with culture-directed antibiotic therapy, while a smaller proportion required surgical wound debridement.

 Conclusion

Postoperative wound infection remains an important complication following orthopaedic surgery, with an incidence of 12.0% in this study. Early identification of high-risk patients and appropriate perioperative infection-prevention measures are important for reducing SSI.

 Recommendation

Strict adherence to aseptic surgical techniques, appropriate perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis, and meticulous postoperative wound care are recommended to reduce postoperative wound infection and improve patient outcomes.

Author Biographies

  • Rajesh Kumar, Assistant Professor, Department of Orthopaedics, Katihar Medical College, Katihar, Bihar, India

    is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Orthopaedics at Katihar Medical College, Katihar, Bihar, India. His professional interests include orthopaedic surgery, postoperative complications, surgical site infection, and perioperative patient care.

  • Ajay Kumar Mahto, Professor & HOD, Department of Orthopaedics, Katihar Medical College, Katihar, Bihar, India.

    is a Professor and Head of the Department of Orthopaedics at Katihar Medical College, Katihar, Bihar, India. His professional interests include orthopaedic surgery, clinical management of musculoskeletal disorders, surgical outcomes, and postoperative patient care.

  • Akif Jilani, Senior Resident, Department of Orthopaedics, Katihar Medical College, Katihar, Bihar, India.

    is a Senior Resident in the Department of Orthopaedics at Katihar Medical College, Katihar, Bihar, India. His professional interests include orthopaedic surgery, trauma care, postoperative complications, and surgical site infection.

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Published

2026-06-30

Issue

Vol. 7 No. 2 (2026): June 2026 issue

Section

Section of Orthopedics

License

Copyright (c) 2026 Rajesh Kumar, Ajay Kumar Mahto, Akif Jilani

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

How to Cite

Kumar, R., Kumar, A. M., & Jilani, A. (2026). Study of incidence of postoperative wound infection in orthopaedic surgery: A retrospective observational study. Student’s Journal of Health Research Africa, 7(2), 10. https://doi.org/10.51168/qbenyz45

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