Table 1.
Population characteristics and clinical presentation according to time after device implantation.
| Characteristics | Early FRI (<14 days) n = 34 (%) | Delayed FRI (14-70 days) n = 74 (%) | Late FRI (>70 days) n = 86 (%) | p-value (early vs delayed vs late) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sex† | 0.534 | |||
| Male | 19 (57.6) | 50 (67.6) | 57 (68.6) | |
| Female | 14 (42.4) | 24 (32.4) | 27 (32.4) | |
| Age median (p25-p75) | 61 (44–70) | 52 (41-70) | 55 (43-67) | 0.725 |
| BMI median (p25-p75) | 25.7 (23.2-30.3) | 25.4 (23.8-28.4) | 26.4 (22.7-30.2) | 0.637 |
| ASA score† | 0.726 | |||
| I | 4 (12.1) | 14 (18.9) | 13 (15.5) | |
| II | 18 (54.5) | 34 (45.9) | 45 (53.6) | |
| III | 9 (27.2) | 24 (32.4) | 25 (29.8) | |
| IV | 2 (6.0) | 2 (2.7) | 1 (1.2) | |
| Fracture characteristics | ||||
| Localization | ||||
| Clavicle | 0 (0.0) | 10 (13.5)* | 3 (3.5) | 0.013 |
| Humerus | 5 (14.7) | 11 (14.9) | 8 (9.3) | 0.511 |
| Forearm | 0 (0.0) | 6 (8.1) | 10 (11.6) | 0.094 |
| Femur | 7 (20.6) | 6 (8.1)* | 23 (26.7)* | 0.010 |
| Tibia | 12 (35.3) | 15 (20.3) | 19 (22.1) | 0.209 |
| Fibula | 3 (8.8) | 9 (12.2) | 6 (7.0) | 0.527 |
| Ankle | 4 (11.8) | 12 (16.2) | 14 (16.3) | 0.806 |
| Calcaneus | 0 (0.0) | 2 (2.7) | 2 (2.3) | 1.000 |
| Patella | 2 (5.9) | 2 (2.7) | 1 (1.2) | 0.262 |
| Scapula | 1 (2.9) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 0.175 |
| Sternum | 0 (0.0) | 1 (1.4) | 0 (0.0) | 0.557 |
| Open/closed | 0.067 | |||
| Closed | 21 (61.8) | 61 (82.4) | 64 (74.4) | |
| Open | 13 (38.2) | 13 (17.6) | 22 (25.6) | |
| Gustilo-Anderson type | 0.682 | |||
| 1 | 4 (11.8) | 3 (4.1) | 7 (8.1) | |
| 2 | 4 (11.8) | 6 (8.1) | 11 (12.8) | |
| 3 | 5 (14.7) | 4 (5.4) | 4 (4.7) | |
| Clinical presentation | ||||
| Fistula | 7 (20.6) | 16 (21.6) | 19 (22.1) | 0.984 |
| Wound breakdown | 8 (23.5) | 27 (36.5) | 17 (19.8) | 0.053 |
| Purulent discharge/pus | 18 (52.9) | 35 (47.3) | 30 (34.9) | 0.120 |
| Redness | 19 (55.9) | 38 (51.4) | 36 (41.9) | 0.290 |
| Pain | 9 (26.5) | 25 (33.8) | 37 (43.0) | 0.098 |
| Swelling | 16 (47.1) | 23 (32.1) | 31 (36.0) | 0.275 |
| Fever (≥38.3°C) | 2 (5.9) | 11 (14.9)* | 2 (2.3)* | 0.008 |
| Local warmth | 7 (20.6) | 10 (13.5) | 6 (7.0) | 0.094 |
| Joint effusion | 3 (8.8) | 7 (9.5) | 9 (10.5) | 0.956 |
| Wound drainage | 16 (47.1) | 27 (36.5) | 20 (23.3)* | 0.028 |
| Microbiological characteristics | ||||
| Monomicrobial | 17 (50.0)* | 58 (78.4) | 63 (73.3) | 0.009 |
| Polymicrobial | 16 (47.1)* | 14 (18.9) | 19 (22.1) | 0.005 |
| Culture-negative | 1 (2.9) | 2 (2.7) | 4 (4.7) | 0.877 |
| Time to onset median (p25-p75) | 9 (6.75-11.25) | 30 (18.75-42.0) | 308 (148-607.25) | – |
†Adds up to 191. Three patients had a second episode of FRI at a different anatomical location *Post-hoc testing showed statistically significant difference from the other groups at p < 0.05. p25-p75: 25th and 75th percentile, inter-quartile range.