Variation in timing and type of groin wound complications highlights the need for uniform reporting standards

Groin wound infections represent a substantial source of patients' morbidity and resource utilization. Definitions and reporting times of groin infections are poorly standardized, which limits our understanding of the true scope of the problem and potentially leads to event under-reporting. Our objective was to investigate the timing and variation of groin wound complications after vascular surgery.

We reviewed all patients who underwent vascular surgery with a groin incision at our institution during 2013 (N = 256; 32% female; mean age, 68.8 years). We analyzed patient- and procedure-level variables. Our primary outcome was any groin complication within 180 days. We classified groin-related events as major (hospital readmission or reoperation for groin wound) or minor (wound opened in clinic, initiation of antibiotics specifically for a groin wound, or new groin hematoma or wound drainage).

The Kaplan-Meier estimated rate of groin complications at 180 days was 23% (n = 53/256); 29 (54%) were major and 24 (46%) were minor. The Kaplan-Meier 30-day event rate was 13% for any complication and only 3% for major complications, indicating that most events occurring within the first 30 days did not require readmission or reoperation. By 180 days, the overall complication rate rose to 23% and the major event rate to 14%, indicating that nearly all complications occurring after 30 days required readmission or reoperation. Those with a groin complication more commonly had tissue loss (23% vs 12%; P = .05), underwent infrainguinal bypass (42% vs 22%; P=.004), had a redo incision (32% vs 18%; P = .03), and had a longer operation (77% vs 65% surgery >200 minutes; P = .07). There were no significant differences in patients' comorbidities, skin closure, dressing type, prosthetic implants, hemostatic agents, or discharge status.

Whereas >20% of patients suffered a groin complication, nearly half of these events occurred after 30 days. Standardized reporting measures limited to 30-day events or infection definitions that are limited to the need for antibiotic use may misrepresent the true infection rate and thus highlight the need for uniform reporting standards.