[Data registration of postoperative complications in connection with orthopedic surgery. A review of 4,346 surgical wounds]

Abstract

A personal computer program to monitor surgical wound infections and other complications in orthopedics was developed. Internationally accepted definitions were used. The program was tested in four Danish orthopedic wards. The test period was from 1 January 1988 to 30 June 1989. Results from four wards consisting of 4,346 wounds in 3,570 patients are presented. The overall superficial wound infection rate was 2.4%, deep wound infection rate was 0.9%, other infection rate was 3.1%, and other complications were developed in 4.3% of the cases. In contrast to previous computer systems presented, this system also registers other nosocomial infections, and other complications. We found the system easy to use, and during the period, the overall registration rate was over ninety percent. If a registration system is introduced in the ward, a combined system which registers all infections and complications is preferable, instead of a simple wound infection system.