TABLE 1.

Clinical characteristics of the included participants.

	HC (n = 12)	FH (n = 18)	FRI (n = 20)	P value
Demographics
Gender, M/F	7/5	14/4	16/4	0.361†
Mean age, years (range)	37.83 (23–62)	40.78 (11–68)	46.05 (13–73)	0.313*
Site of fracture, n (%)
Tibia		5 (27.78%)	12 (60.00%)
Tibia and fibula		1 (5.56%)	3 (15.00%)
Patella		1 (5.56%)	0
Femur		2 (11.11%)	1 (5.00%)
Humerus		3 (16.67%)	0
Radius and/or ulna		3 (16.67%)	0
Clavicle		1 (5.56%)	0
Foot and ankle		1 (5.56%)	3 (15.00%)
Knee joint		0	1 (5.00%)
Elbow joint		1 (5.56%)	0
Preoperative local status, n (%)
Sinus tract or fistula		0	3
Visible pus		0	13

HC, healthy controls; FH, fracture healed; FRI, fracture-related infection; M/F, male/female. ^†Chi-squared test. *ANOVA test.