Peri-operative SARS-CoV-2 infection increases postoperative mortality. The aim of this study was to determine the optimal duration of planned delay before surgery in patients who have had SARS-CoV-2 infection. This international, multicentre, prospective cohort study included patients undergoing elective or emergency surgery during October 2020. Surgical patients with pre-operative SARS-CoV-2 infection were compared with those without previous SARS-CoV-2 infection. The primary outcome measure was 30-day postoperative mortality. Logistic regression models were used to calculate adjusted 30-day mortality rates stratified by time from diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection to surgery. Among 140,231 patients (116 countries), 3127 patients (2.2%) had a pre-operative SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis. Adjusted 30-day mortality in patients without SARS-CoV-2 infection was 1.5% (95%CI 1.4-1.5). In patients with a pre-operative SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis, mortality was increased in patients having surgery within 0-2 weeks, 3-4 weeks and 5-6 weeks of the diagnosis (odds ratio (95%CI) 4.1 (3.3-4.8), 3.9 (2.6-5.1) and 3.6 (2.0-5.2), respectively). Surgery performed ≥ 7 weeks after SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis was associated with a similar mortality risk to baseline (odds ratio (95%CI) 1.5 (0.9-2.1)). After a ≥ 7 week delay in undertaking surgery following SARS-CoV-2 infection, patients with ongoing symptoms had a higher mortality than patients whose symptoms had resolved or who had been asymptomatic (6.0% (95%CI 3.2-8.7) vs. 2.4% (95%CI 1.4-3.4) vs. 1.3% (95%CI 0.6-2.0), respectively). Where possible, surgery should be delayed for at least 7 weeks following SARS-CoV-2 infection. Patients with ongoing symptoms ≥ 7 weeks from diagnosis may benefit from further delay.

Purpose (1) To compare the incidence of post‐operative septic arthritis following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) between patients receiving routine pre‐operative intravenous (IV) prophylaxis only intravenous (IV) infection prophylaxis and patients receiving additional graft‐soaking in a vancomycin solution (5 mg/ml) perioperatively. (2) To review the literature regarding effects of graft‐soaking in vancomycin solutions on outcomes, complication rates and tendon properties in ACLR. Methods To identify studies pertaining to routine pre‐operative IV prophylaxis and additional usage of intra‐operative vancomycin‐soaked grafts in primary ACLR, the Cochrane Library, SCOPUS and MEDLINE were searched till June 2018 for English and German language studies of all levels of evidence following the PRISMA guidelines. Additionally, all accepted abstracts at the ESSKA 2018, ISAKOS 2017, AGA 2017 and AOSSM 2017 meetings were screened. Data regarding the incidence of septic arthritis were abstracted and combined in a meta‐analysis. Data including outcome scores, complication rates and in vitro analyses of tendon properties were collected and summarized descriptively. Results Upon screening 785 titles, 8 studies were included. These studies examined 5,075 patients following ACLR and followed from 6 to 52 weeks post‐operatively. Of those 2099 patients in the routine pre‐operative IV prophylaxis group, 44 (2.1%) cases of early septic arthritis were reported. In contrast, there were no reports of septic arthritis following ACLR in 2976 cases of vancomycin‐soaked grafts. The meta‐analysis yielded an odds ratio of 0.04 (0.01–0.16) favouring the addition of intra‐operative vancomycin‐soaking of grafts. Across all available studies, no differences in clinical outcome (i.e. incidence of ACL revision, IKDC score, Tegner score), biomechanical tendon properties, or cartilage integrity between patients with and without vancomycin‐soaked grafts were identified. Conclusion The incidence of septic arthritis following ACLR can be reduced dramatically by vancomycin‐soaking the grafts intra‐operatively prior to graft passage and fixation. Within the limitation confines of this study, intra‐operative graft‐soaking in vancomycin appears to be a safe and effective method to reduce the incidence of septic arthritis following ACLR. Still, it remains debatable if the available data facilitate the recommendation for a universal application of vancomycin‐soaking for all ACLR patients or if it should be reserved for patients at risk, including the use hamstring tendons, revision cases and in the presence of medical preconditions. Level of evidence Level IV, systematic review of Level III and Level IV studies.

SARS-CoV-2 has been associated with an increased rate of venous thromboembolism in critically ill patients. Since surgical patients are already at higher risk of venous thromboembolism than general populations, this study aimed to determine if patients with peri-operative or prior SARS-CoV-2 were at further increased risk of venous thromboembolism. We conducted a planned sub-study and analysis from an international, multicentre, prospective cohort study of elective and emergency patients undergoing surgery during October 2020. Patients from all surgical specialties were included. The primary outcome measure was venous thromboembolism (pulmonary embolism or deep vein thrombosis) within 30 days of surgery. SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis was defined as peri-operative (7 days before to 30 days after surgery); recent (1-6 weeks before surgery); previous (≥7 weeks before surgery); or none. Information on prophylaxis regimens or pre-operative anti-coagulation for baseline comorbidities was not available. Postoperative venous thromboembolism rate was 0.5% (666/123,591) in patients without SARS-CoV-2; 2.2% (50/2317) in patients with peri-operative SARS-CoV-2; 1.6% (15/953) in patients with recent SARS-CoV-2; and 1.0% (11/1148) in patients with previous SARS-CoV-2. After adjustment for confounding factors, patients with peri-operative (adjusted odds ratio 1.5 (95%CI 1.1-2.0)) and recent SARS-CoV-2 (1.9 (95%CI 1.2-3.3)) remained at higher risk of venous thromboembolism, with a borderline finding in previous SARS-CoV-2 (1.7 (95%CI 0.9-3.0)). Overall, venous thromboembolism was independently associated with 30-day mortality ). In patients with SARS-CoV-2, mortality without venous thromboembolism was 7.4% (319/4342) and with venous thromboembolism was 40.8% (31/76). Patients undergoing surgery with peri-operative or recent SARS-CoV-2 appear to be at increased risk of postoperative venous thromboembolism compared with patients with no history of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Optimal venous thromboembolism prophylaxis and treatment are unknown in this cohort of patients, and these data should be interpreted accordingly.

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Background Prevention of hospital-acquired infections, in the clinical field of orthopedics and traumatology especially surgical site infections, is one of the major concerns of patients and physicians alike. Many studies have been conducted proving effective infection prevention measures. The clinical setting, however, requires strategies to transform this knowledge into practice. Question/purpose As part of the HYGArzt-Project (“Proof Of Effectivity And Efficiency Of Implementation Of Infection Prevention (IP) Measures By The Physician Responsible For Infection Prevention Matters In Traumatology/Orthopedics”), the objective of this study was to identify effective implementation strategies for IP (infection prevention) measures in orthopedics and trauma surgery. Methods The systematic review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines. A review protocol was drafted prior to the literature search (not registered). Literature search was performed in MEDLINE, SCOPUS and COCHRANE between January 01, 1950 and June 01, 2019. We searched for all papers dealing with infection and infection control measures in orthopedics and traumatology, which were then scanned for implementation contents. All study designs were considered eligible. Exclusion criteria were language other than English or German and insufficient reporting of implementation methods. Analyzed outcome parameters were study design, patient cohort, infection prevention measure, implementation methods, involved personnel, reported outcome of the studies and study period. Results The literature search resulted in 8414 citations. 13 records were eligible for analysis (all published between 2001 and 2019). Studies were primarily prospective cohort studies featuring various designs and including single IP measures to multi-measure IP bundles. Described methods of implementation were heterogeneous. Main outcome parameters were increase of adherence (iA) to infection prevention (IP) measures or decrease in surgical site infection rate (dSSI%). Positive results were reported in 11 out of 13 studies. Successful implementation methods were building of a multidisciplinary team (considered in 8 out of 11 successful studies [concerning dSSI% in 5 studies, concerning iA in five studies]), standardization of guidelines (considered in 10/11 successful studies [concerning dSSI% in 5 studies, concerning iA in seven studies]), printed or electronic information material (for patient and/or staff; considered in 9/11 successful studies [concerning dSSI% 4/4, concerning iA 5/5]), audits and regular meetings, personal training and other interactive measures as well as regular feedback (considered in 7/11 successful studies each). Personnel most frequently involved were physicians (of those, most frequently surgeons) and nursing professions. Conclusion Although evidence was scarce and quality-inconsistent, we found that adhering to a set of implementation methods focusing on interdisciplinary and interactive /interpersonal work might be an advisable strategy when planning IP improvement interventions in orthopedics and traumatology.