Background. Deep wound infection (DWI) in total knee (TKA) and total hip (THA) arthroplasty has been shown to highly correlate with superficial surgical site infection (SSSI). Although several studies have reported hospital factors that predispose to SSSI, patient factors have not been clearly elucidated. Methods. All patients undergoing TKA (n = 1181) and THA (n = 1124) surgery during the period 1977–1995 at our institution were observed at the end of a 30‐day post‐operative period. Thirty‐three patients that developed SSSI during this period constituted the study group. The control group was composed of 64 matched subjects that did not develop SSSI. A chart review was applied to abstract DWI cases during the first 18 post‐operative months for the study group and for an average of 6.7 years for the control group (range 5–18.2 years). Potential risk factors for SSSI were used as predictors of SSSI in a logistic regression analysis. Results. During the 18‐month observation period 19 out of the 33 study subjects (58%) developed DWI. No DWI was registered in the control group (the difference was significant, p < 0.0001). Of the nine pre‐operative, five intra‐operative, and five post‐operative factors examined, only hematoma formation (odds ratio = 11.8; p = 0.001) and days of post‐operative drainage (odds ratio = 1.32; p = 0.01) were significant predictors of SSSI. The cases consumed more health care resources at all stages of the medical process. Conclusions. Our results (1) confirm the strong correlation between the probability of developing DWI and SSSI: (2) indicate that hematoma formation and persistent post‐operative drainage increase the risk of SSSI. We hypothesize that post‐operative monitoring of patients for hematoma and persistent drainage enables earlier intervention that may lower the risk of developing SSSI and subsequent DWI. © 2002 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Introduction: Measuring patient-perceived outcomes following orthopaedic procedures have become an important component of clinical research and patient care. General and disease-specific outcomes measures have been developed and applied in orthopaedics to assess the patients' perceived health status. Unfortunately, paper-based, self-administered instruments remain inefficient for collecting data because of: (a) missing data (b) respondent error, and (c) the costs to administer and enter data.Ohjectioe: To study the comparability of palm-top computer devices and paper-pencil self-administered questionnaires in the collection of health-related quality of life (HRQL) information from patients.Methods: The comparability of administering HRQL questionnaires using palm-top computer and traditional paper-based forms was tested in a sample of 96 patients with complaints of hip and/or knee pain. Each patient completed mailed versions of the Medical Outcomes Study (MOS), 36-item Health Survey (SF-36), and Western Ontario and McMasters University Arthritis Index (WOMAC) three weeks prior to presenting to clinic. At the clinic they were asked to complete the same outcomes measures using the palm-top computer or a paper-and-pencil version.Analysis: In the analysis, scale distributions, floor and ceiling effects, internal consistency and retest reliability of scales were compared across the two data collection methods. Because the baseline characteristics of the groups were not strictly comparable according to age, the data were analyzed for the entire sample and stratified according to age.Results: Few statistically significant differences were found for the means, variances and intra-class correlation coefficients between the methods of administration. While the scale distribution between the two methods was comparable, the internal consistency of the scales was dissimilar.Conclusions: Administration of HRQL questionnaires using portable palm-top computer devices has the potential advantage of decreased cost and convenience. These data lend some support for the comparability of palm-top computers and paper surveys for outcomes measures widely used in the field of orthopaedic surgery. The present study identified the lack of reliability across modes of administration that requires further study in a randomized comparability trial. These mode effects are important for orthopaedic surgeons to appreciate before implementing innovative data-capture technologies in their practices.

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