Patient-Based and Surgical Risk Factors for 30-Day Postoperative Complications and Mortality After Ankle Fracture Fixation.

Objective: The purpose was to calculate the incidence rates and determine risk factors for 30-day postoperative mortality and morbidity after ankle fracture open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF).

Methods: The NSQIP database was queried to identify patients undergoing ankle fracture ORIF from 2006 to 2011, with extraction patient-based or surgical variables and a 30-day clinical course. Multivariable logistic regression analysis identified significant predictors on outcome measures.

Results: Mean age was 50.3 (±18.2) years while diabetes mellitus (12.8%) and body mass index ≥40 kg/m(2) (9.2%) were documented from a total of 3328 patients identified. The 30-day mortality rate was 0.30%, and complications occurred in 5.1%. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [odds ratio (OR): 4.23, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.19-15.06] and a nonindependent functional status before surgery (OR: 2.25, 95% CI: 1.13-4.51) were the sole independent predictors of mortality and major local complications, respectively. Major local complications occurred in 2.2% of patients, and significant predictors were peripheral vascular disease (OR: 6.14; 95% CI: 1.95-19.35), open wound (OR: 5.04; 95% CI: 2.25-11.27), nonclean wound classification (OR: 3.02; 95% CI: 1.31-6.93), and smoking (OR: 2.85; 95% CI: 1.42-5.70). Independent predictors of hospital stay >3 days were cardiac disease, age 70 years or older, open wound, partially/totally dependent functional status, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification ≥3, body mass index ≥40 kg/m(2), bimalleolar or trimalleolar ankle fracture pattern, female sex, and diabetes.

Conclusions: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease increased the risk of mortality after ankle fracture ORIF. Risk factors for postoperative complications included peripheral vascular disease, open wound, nonclean wound classification, age 70 years or older, and ASA classification ≥3.

Level Of Evidence: Prognostic Level II. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.