Table 5.

Types of postoperative complications

Type	Definition
Type I	Complications were considered expected/anticipated occurrences and were corrected within treatment plan No change to original treatment plan Treatment achieved desired outcome Example: pin site infection, slight joint contracture resolvable with physical therapy, mild allergic reactions, etc
Type II	Complications required modification of treatment plan or development of new treatment plan Modified (or new) treatment achieved desired outcome Example: joint contracture requiring intensive physical therapy, delayed consolidation, device-related complications, etc
Type IIIA	Complications led to failure to achieve desired outcome Example: recurrence of deformity after treatment
Type IIIB	Complications led to failure to achieve desired outcome New pathology/diagnosis created Patient’s condition is worse than before treatment Examples: regenerate defect/fracture; joint subluxation/dislocation; severe flexion contracture, etc