[Menstruation and postoperative complications. A review of the literature]

Because of a Toxic Shock Syndrome following an urgent knee operation during the premenstrual period we reviewed the available literature. There is no indication that the physiological process in woundhealing is influenced by menstruation. Increased woundinfection after operations during the perimenstruum were--except for inner female genitals--not observed. But more and more TSS is described after any kind of operation, so traumatologists should be well acquainted with the symptoms.