Risk infection factors in the total hip replacement

Infection is a complication that occurs in a considerable percentage of hip prostheses replacements, being in many cases necessary to retire them, which generates important health and economical problems.

To know the distribution of infection and its risk factors in total hip replacement.

A four year prospective study was developed in the rehabilitation and orthopedic center of 'La Paz' Hospital. A total of 873 patients were included. Patients were controlled by means of active epidemiological surveillance until the day of discharge, listing up their characteristics at admission and risk factors during their stay. A multivariant study was carried out to determine risk factors.

Patients' average age was 63 years, 3.4% of them suffered from diabetes and there were no inmunocompromised patients. The percentage of wound infection during the four years was 6%, being reduced to 1.2% in the last year. The risk factors found in the multivariant study were: incorrect prophylaxis (OR: 3.85), wrong scaring (OR: 14.06), suffering more than one intervention (OR: 7.31) and a hospitalization period longer than 30 days (OR: 2.84).

We think that special attention in the care of the surgical wound, as well as the correct use of prophylaxis, can significantly collaborate to the reduction of infection.