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. 2018 May 15;6(5):2325967118772799.
doi: 10.1177/2325967118772799. eCollection 2018 May.

Patient-Related Risk Factors for Infection Following Ulnar Nerve Release at the Cubital Tunnel: An Analysis of 15,188 Cases

Christopher L Camp  1 , Collin C Tebo  2 , Ryan M Degen  3 , Joshua S Dines  3 , David W Altchek  3 , Brian C Werner  4
Affiliations

Patient-Related Risk Factors for Infection Following Ulnar Nerve Release at the Cubital Tunnel: An Analysis of 15,188 Cases

Christopher L Camp et al. Orthop J Sports Med. .

Abstract

Background: Although cubital tunnel release is a commonly performed orthopaedic procedure, the overall incidence of and independent risk factors for infection largely remain undefined in the current literature.

Purpose: To establish the rate of postoperative infection after isolated cubital tunnel release and define relevant patient-related risk factors.

Study design: Case-control study; Level 3.

Methods: All Medicare-insured patients undergoing ulnar nerve decompression at the cubital tunnel from 2010 through 2012 were identified. A multivariate binomial logistic regression analysis was utilized to evaluate the impact of patient-related risk factors for postoperative infection.

Results: A total of 330 (2.17%) postoperative infections were identified in 15,188 cases. The majority (87%) were managed nonoperatively, while 13% required surgical debridement. The most significant risk factors for infection included hemodialysis use (odds ratio [OR], 2.47), chronic anemia (OR, 2.24), age <65 years (OR, 2.08), tobacco use (OR, 1.65), morbid obesity (OR, 1.53), inflammatory arthritis (OR, 1.43), depression (OR, 1.36), hyperlipidemia (OR, 1.33), male sex (OR, 1.32), and chronic lung disease (OR, 1.29).

Conclusion: The present study was adequately powered to determine numerous patient-related risk factors for infection following cubital tunnel release.

Keywords: cubital tunnel release; elbow; infection; ulnar nerve.

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Conflict of interest statement

One or more of the authors has declared the following potential conflict of interest or source of funding: C.L.C. has received educational support from Arthrex and hospitality payments from Arthrex, Zimmer Biomet, and Stryker. J.S.D. is a paid consultant for Arthrex, Trice Medical, Wright Medical Technology, ConMed Linvatec, and DePuy Orthopaedics; is a paid speaker/presenter for Arthrex; receives research support from Arthrex; receives royalties from Biomet and Wolters Kluwer Health; and has received hospitality payments from Arthrex and ConMed Linvatec. B.C.W. has received hospitality payments and educational support from Arthrex.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Annual number of open cubital tunnel releases performed in the United States Medicare population.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Postoperative infection rate for patients undergoing cubital tunnel decompression.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Treatment rendered for patients developing postoperative infection.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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