Traumatic brain injury alters the effects of class II invariant peptide (CLIP) antagonism on chronic meningeal CLIP + B cells, neuropathology, and neurobehavioral impairment in 5xFAD mice.

BACKGROUND: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a significant risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD), and accumulating evidence supports a role for adaptive immune B and T cells in both TBI and AD pathogenesis. We previously identified B cell and major histocompatibility complex class II (MHCII)-associated invariant chain peptide (CLIP)-positive B cell expansion after TBI. We also showed that antagonizing CLIP binding to the antigen presenting groove of MHCII after TBI acutely reduced CLIP + splenic B cells and was neuroprotective. The current study investigated the chronic effects of antagonizing CLIP in the 5xFAD Alzheimer's mouse model, with and without TBI. METHODS: 12-week-old male wild type (WT) and 5xFAD mice were administered either CLIP antagonist peptide (CAP) or vehicle, once at 30 min after either sham or a lateral fluid percussion injury (FPI). Analyses included flow cytometric analysis of immune cells in dural meninges and spleen, histopathological analysis of the brain, magnetic resonance diffusion tensor imaging, cerebrovascular analysis, and assessment of motor and neurobehavioral function over the ensuing 6 months. RESULTS: 9-month-old 5xFAD mice had significantly more CLIP + B cells in the meninges compared to age-matched WT mice. A one-time treatment with CAP significantly reduced this population in 5xFAD mice. Importantly, CAP also improved some of the immune, histopathological, and neurobehavioral impairments in 5xFAD mice over the ensuing six months. Although FPI did not further elevate meningeal CLIP + B cells, it did negate the ability of CAP to reduce meningeal CLIP + B cells in the 5xFAD mice. FPI at 3 months of age exacerbated some aspects of AD pathology in 5xFAD mice, including further reducing hippocampal neurogenesis, increasing plaque deposition in CA3, altering microgliosis, and disrupting the cerebrovascular structure. CAP treatment after injury ameliorated some but not all of these FPI effects.

Effectiveness of Concurrent Ankle Arthroscopy During Open Reduction and Internal Fixation of Malleolar Fractures in Prevention of Common Short-Term Complications.

Rotational malleolar fractures result in a high prevalence of intra-articular pathologies; therefore, routine arthroscopic assessment may be beneficial in the surgical treatment of ankle fractures. However, the clinical studies regarding the effectiveness of arthroscopy thus far have mixed results. We investigated the efficacy of concurrent arthroscopy during the treatment of malleolar fractures using a large U.S. healthcare data set. Those who had arthroscopy were compared with those who did not, during the surgical treatment of malleolar fractures, while adjusting for covariates of clinical relevance. The analysis showed that concurrent arthroscopy is protective against postoperative repeat surgery (OR = 0.13, 95CI = 0.02-0.41) and wound dehiscence (OR = 0.18, 95CI = 0.03-0.56). The number of added arthroscopy cases needed to avoid one repeat surgery was 74, while that of wound dehiscence was 52. Further studies are needed to determine if routine use of arthroscopy is justifiable in the surgical treatment of malleolar fractures, given the additional costs and time to the healthcare system.

Trajectories of Diabetes-Related Sequelae for Identifying Transition Probabilities, and Optimal Timepoints for Prevention of Ulceration, Infection, and Amputation.

To reduce diabetes-related complications and to avoid futile procedures, foot and ankle surgeons need to understand the relative timings of catastrophic events, their incidence, and probabilities of transitions between disease states in diabetes in different patient populations. For this study, we tracked medical events (including an initial diagnosis of diabetes, ulcer, wound care, osteomyelitis, amputation, and reamputation, in order of severity) and the time between each such event in patients with diabetes, stratifying by sex, race, and ethnicity. We found that the longest average duration between the different lower extremity states was a diagnosis of diabetes to the occurrence of ulcer at 1137 days (38 months). The average durations of amputation to reamputation, osteomyelitis, wound care, and ulcer were 18, 49, 23, and 18 days, respectively. The length of each disease transition for females was greater, while those of the Hispanic population were shorter than in the total cohort. This knowledge may permit surgeons to time and tailor treatments to their patients, and help patients to address, delay, or avoid complications.

The Effect of Limb Salvage Efforts in Different Age Groups: Relationships Between Major and Minor Amputations.

"Limb salvage" efforts, such as performing minor amputations before infections spread proximally from the foot to decrease major lower extremity amputation, are an important part of healthcare today. It is unclear whether these efforts are preventing the number of major amputations and improving patients' quality of life and the cost-effectiveness of the U.S. healthcare system. Rates of non-traumatic lower extremity amputation (NLEA) among patients with diabetes decreased in the early 2000s but rebounded in the 2010s. We analyzed the proportion of major amputations and differences in amputation rates between age groups in Texas. Patient data was extracted from the Texas Hospital Discharge Data Public Use Data File. Population estimates were obtained from the Texas Population Estimates Program from 2011 to 2015 and from intercensal estimates provided by the U.S. Census Bureau from 2006 to 2010. Raw numbers of minor, major, and all NLEA surgeries and the ratio of major amputations to total amputations per year were reported for each age group. Poisson regression and Joinpoint analyses were performed to capture these changes in trends. Rates of amputations increased, with significant decreasing relative prevalence of major amputations. Patients aged 45 to 64 with diabetes are likely driving these increases. Rates of lower extremity amputation in patients with diabetes increased from 2009 to 2015. This holds for all and minor amputations. In contrast, the ratio of major to all amputations decreased from 2010. Utilization of major and minor amputation differs between age groups, remaining stable in the youngest subjects, with minor amputation rates increasing in those aged 45 to 64.

Safe driving recommendations following lower extremity orthopedic surgery: a systematic review.

PURPOSE: We analyzed the published literature on return-to-driving (RTD) recommendations following lower extremity orthopedic surgery, including knee and hip arthroplasty and ankle and foot surgery. METHODS: We conducted a PubMed MEDLINE database search for the relevant literature spanning from 1988 to 2022. Data were extracted from the selected articles independently by six investigators, and the mean, standard deviation, and range of RTD recommendations for each surgical region and procedure were calculated. RESULTS: The 34 studies included in our review evaluated brake response time, reaction time, movement time, braking force, and other parameters. Average RTD recommendations in weeks were: hip surgeries, 4.1 (± 2.7); foot surgeries, 6.67 (± 0.94); Achilles surgeries, 6.67 (± 0.25); ankle surgeries, 4 (± 2); knee surgeries, 5.42 (± 0.77); and multiple lower extremity surgeries, 3.85 (± 0.15). CONCLUSION: Our findings can assist physicians in providing informed recommendations to patients, promoting safe driving practices, and optimizing postoperative recovery. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, Level III: Retrospective comparative study.

Development and Evaluation of Rehabilitation Service Areas for the United States.

BACKGROUND: Geographic areas have been developed for many healthcare sectors including acute and primary care. These areas aid in understanding health care supply, use, and outcomes. However, little attention has been given to developing similar geographic tools for understanding rehabilitation in post-acute care. The purpose of this study was to develop and characterize post-acute care Rehabilitation Service Areas (RSAs) in the United States (US) that reflect rehabilitation use by Medicare beneficiaries. METHODS: A patient origin study was conducted to cluster beneficiary ZIP (Zone Improvement Plan) code tabulation areas (ZCTAs) with providers who service those areas using Ward's clustering method. We used US national Medicare claims data for 2013 to 2015 for beneficiaries discharged from an acute care hospital to an inpatient rehabilitation facility (IRF), skilled nursing facility (SNF), long-term care hospital (LTCH), or home health agency (HHA). Medicare is a US health insurance program primarily for older adults. The study population included patient records across all diagnostic groups. We used IRF, SNF, LTCH and HHA services to create the RSAs. We used 2013 and 2014 data (n = 2,730,366) to develop the RSAs and 2015 data (n = 1,118,936) to evaluate stability. We described the RSAs by provider type availability, population, and traveling patterns among beneficiaries. RESULTS: The method resulted in 1,711 discrete RSAs. 38.7% of these RSAs had IRFs, 16.1% had LTCHs, and 99.7% had SNFs. The number of RSAs varied across states; some had fewer than 10 while others had greater than 70. Overall, 21.9% of beneficiaries traveled from the RSA where they resided to another RSA for care. CONCLUSIONS: Rehabilitation Service Areas are a new tool for the measurement and understanding of post-acute care utilization, resources, quality, and outcomes. These areas provide policy makers, researchers, and administrators with small-area boundaries to assess access, supply, demand, and understanding of financing to improve practice and policy for post-acute care in the US.

Preoperative Serum Albumin and Other Risk Factors Related to 30-Day Postoperative Complications in Total Ankle Arthroplasty.

This study investigates effects of preoperative albumin on 30-day total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) outcomes. Additionally, other preoperative risk factors are addressed, including American Anesthesia Society (ASA) class, functional status, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetes, smoking status, time of operation, and age. Outcomes assessed were readmission, return to operating room, surgical site infection, wound dehiscence, and total length of stay (TLOS). Data were extracted from the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database. Bivariate comparisons were analyzed using correlation coefficients, t tests, or chi-squared tests; multivariate comparisons used linear or logistic regression. Our data showed no significant correlation between serum albumin and patients with readmission (odds ratio -0.14, P = 0.06), return to operating room (-0.07, P = 0.61), or surgical site infection (-0.08, P = 0.56). With bivariate analysis, functional status and COPD were significant for readmission (12.67, P < 0.001 and 7.83, P < 0.001, respectively) and dehiscence (30.52, P < 0.001 and 6.74, P = 0.05, respectively), while high ASA class (0.4, P = 0.01), increased age (0.1, P < 0.001), and longer time of operation (0.19, P < 0.001) were associated with longer TLOS. With multivariate analysis, functional status showed higher odds of readmission (7.42, P = 0.02) and dehiscence (20.47, P = 0.01), while COPD showed higher odds for readmission (6.65, P < 0.001) and longer TLOS (0.31, P = 0.05). High ASA class (0.42, P < 0.001) and female sex (0.32, P < 0.001) also had higher odds for longer TLOS. In summary, low albumin was not significant for readmission, return to operating room, or surgical site infection in TAA. COPD, functional status, high ASA class, longer time of operation, increased age, and female sex were all correlated with adverse outcomes in TAA.

CVP and echo Measurements are Associated with Improved Outcomes in Patients with Gastrointestinal (GI) Hemorrhage: A Retrospective Analysis of the MIMIC- IV Database.

Purpose: Mortality associated with acute Gastrointestinal (GI) hemorrhage in intensive care units (ICU) has remained high in patients suffering from hemodynamic instability. Prompt recognition and rapid assessment of bleeding severity are crucial to improve survival. Central venous pressure (CVP) monitoring is commonly used for early recognition of intravascular imbalances, but its effectiveness in predicting fluid responsiveness is often questioned. Echocardiography (echo) is a rapid, noninvasive method to repeatedly assess cardiac function and fluid responsiveness. This study investigated the impact of CVP and echo measurements on the outcomes of critically ill patients with GI hemorrhage. Methods: The study was based on the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care IV (MIMIC- IV) database. Patients were divided into four groups according to the usage of CVP and/or echo. The primary outcomes were 7-day, 14-day, 28-day, and overall mortalities after ICU admission. Cox Proportional-Hazards Models were used to elucidate the relationship between CVP/ Echo monitoring and mortality. The severity of illness of patients were adjusted by qSOFA score, SOFA score and base deficit level at admission. Results: Among 1705 eligible patients, 82 patients had both CVP and echo, 85 had CVP only, and 116 had Echo only. The results of survival analysis indicated that, comparing with those without either CVP or echo, the echo utilization was associated with improved mortalities at all time points during ICU stay for patients with moderate GI hemorrhage, and the combined use of CVP and echo was associated with lower 7-day,14-day and overall mortalities for patients with severe GI hemorrhage. Conclusion: Early usage of CVP and echo monitoring or echo alone are associated with lower mortality in the short and long-term when compared to patients without either measurement. Clinicians should consider goal-directed resuscitation guided by echo with/without CVP in patients with GI hemorrhage early after admission to ICU.

Diabetes-Specific Dementia: A Structured Literature Review of Cognitive Assessment Methods.

Diabetes mellitus is a known risk factor for the development of multiple subtypes of dementia and mild cognitive impairment. Recent research identifies a cause-specific diabetes-related dementia with a unique set of characteristics. Currently, there is no standard cognitive assessment battery recommended to specifically assess dementia that is a direct consequence of chronic diabetes, and some evaluations have been used for decades with minimal revisions, regardless of appropriateness. We performed a systematic review of the dementia/cognition evaluation methods most commonly used in the literature for assessing diabetic patients and identified which cognitive domains are typically assessed in this setting, and whether cognitive changes were more reflective of a vascular pathology, Alzheimer's pathology, or something else entirely. Search results yielded 1089 articles. After screening for appropriateness, a total of 11 full-text articles were assessed. In general, subjects in the reviewed studies were assessed using a variety of testing methods, examining different combinations of cognitive domains. A standard, clear definition of which cognitive domains are the most important to assess in diabetic patients is needed in order to determine what combination of assessment tools are most pertinent. Given the growing subset of the US population, careful reconsideration of cognitive assessment methods is needed to create self-care plans that take into account a specific collection of cognitive challenges for those with diabetes.

An Updated Epidemiology of Foot and Ankle Fractures in the United States: Complications, Mechanisms, and Risk Factors.

Foot and ankle fractures are prevalent emergent injuries, about which there remains a lack of in-depth epidemiological information. This analysis of the epidemiology of foot and ankle injuries in the United States updates a previously conducted study. Data from the National Trauma Data Bank (2012-2017) were used for analysis. Demographic variables, mechanism of injuries, and comorbidities were analyzed to determine risk factors for complications after foot and ankle injuries. Young adults aged 21 to 30 years had the highest injury rates; however, in general, older individuals were more at risk for complications. Black individuals were more at risk for certain complications, while Asians were at lower risk, when compared to White individuals. The comorbidities of bleeding disorders, diabetes, smoking, hypertension, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease all increased risk of at least 1 complication. In terms of mechanism, traffic incidents were found to be the most strongly associated with complications.

Delayed Diagnosis of Charcot Foot: A Systematic Review.

This study aims to examine the duration and rate of delayed diagnosis in Charcot foot. We systematically reviewed articles published in Medline, SCOPUS, and Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature to identify articles discussing delayed or misdiagnosis of Charcot foot. Random-effects models were generated to determine the average time from symptom onset to correct diagnosis (diagnostic delay duration) and proportion of patients misdiagnosed prior to being correctly diagnosed (delayed diagnosis rate). Our search identified 142 articles, 7 of which are included in this review. The review found that 53.2% of cases of Charcot osteoarthropathy experienced a delay in diagnosis (95% CI: 28.9%-77.4%). Overall, the duration of diagnostic delay was determined to be 86.9 days (95% CI: 10.5-162.1). We found that patients with Charcot foot experienced prolonged delays from symptom onset to correct diagnosis, and a majority of patients are misdiagnosed. These delays in diagnosis contribute to worse patient outcomes.

A Pilot Survey: Knowledge of Charcot Neuroarthropathy Among Family and Internal Medicine Practitioners.

Charcot neuroarthropathy secondary to diabetes mellitus is a serious complication, requiring specialist management. As a relatively rare pathology bearing similarity to other, more common diseases, it may be misdiagnosed at initial presentation, potentially leading to delays in appropriate management. We conducted a 2-part online survey of primary care physicians within an academic medical institution to assess knowledge of presentation, complications, diagnosis, and treatment of Charcot neuropathy. The first section was designed to assess physician knowledge of Charcot foot, while the second section was completed only by physicians who were familiar with the condition and was designed to gauge their level of knowledge. Most clinicians were familiar with Charcot, encountering it at least annually. They identified common signs of Charcot (eg, swelling, pain) and complications due to its mismanagement (eg, ulcer, amputation). However, there was some disagreement on how to diagnose the pathology, with some relying on film, others referring to specialists, and some saying they were unsure. There was uncertainty on when to choose surgical options; fewer than half referred to specialists for help with this decision, and a quarter were unsure how to make the decision. While, in general, clinicians were aware of Charcot and its characteristics, there was confusion regarding how to diagnose or appropriate nonsurgical treatment.

Thromboprophylaxis and Bleeding Complications in Orthopedic and Trauma Patients: A Systematic Review.

This systematic review was conducted to investigate the effects of currently used chemoprophylactic modalities to assess concerns regarding their usage. Preventive benefits of thromboprophylaxis were weighed against potential complications in orthopedic and trauma patients. The Ovid MEDLINE® database was used to identify relevant studies. The authors independently screened the initial study articles by title and abstract, eliminating articles not dealing with venous thromboembolism (VTE) chemoprophylaxis in orthopedic or trauma populations. The remaining articles were assessed for eligibility through full-text analysis. The analyzed studies within this review suggested that Factor Xa inhibitors and direct oral anticoagulants hold promise as safe and potentially more effective thromboprophylactic entities when compared to low molecular weight heparin in trauma and orthopedic patients. Thromboprophylaxis had little to no effect on major bleeding incidence, although we could not definitively conclude there was no effect on overall bleeding. Early thromboprophylaxis, especially when identifiable risk factors are present, can improve VTE prevention without changing major bleeding rates. Additionally, we could not conclude whether extended prophylaxis affects VTE incidence, although it seemed to have no effect on major bleeding. Finally, we determined that thromboprophylaxis in the lower extremity trauma population is questionable without the presence of underlying risk factors.

A Critical Look at a Diabetic Foot Randomized Controlled Trial: Can You Ever Have Too Many Patients?

The objective of this article series is to teach approaches for critical appraisal to consumers of medical literature. The aim is to build a deeper understanding of standard procedure in clinical research so clinicians can determine whether medical evidence can be applied to their practices. We will choose published articles with methodological flaws to serve as discussion points. In the first article of this series, we will proceed section by section through an article to teach readers what is usually reported, and illustrate what was done correctly and what was not. Subsequently, later articles in this series of critical appraisals will discuss more focused topics. There were several interesting flaws in our first examined paper. This study provides the unusual flaw of reporting a sample size justification and then exceeding enrollment. In addition, the authors enrolled a relatively large number of subjects (n = 16) that evidently completed the study but were subsequently excluded from analysis because they did not fit the inclusion and exclusion criteria.

Predisposing Factors for 30-Day Complications Following Achilles Tendon Repair.

Certain risk factors for Achilles tendon repair complications, including tobacco use, diabetes mellitus, steroid use, and obesity, have been well-reviewed. This study analyzes the impact of a range of demographic factors on unique surgical complications within the 30-day postoperative period. We extracted data from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database from 2012 to 2017 and searched for Achilles tendon repairs using CPT codes 27650, 27652, and 27654, identifying 4,040 patients. Twenty-two demographic variables and their association with each of 4 complications were analyzed using t tests or chi-squared tests. A logistic regression was conducted to determine independent risk factors for each outcome, based on results from the bivariate analyses. Variables having p <.2 on bivariate analysis were included in the multivariate analysis of the corresponding surgical complication. Patients with open or infected wounds preoperatively were more likely to return with a postoperative surgical infection (p< .001). Likewise, each additional year of the patient's age increased their likelihood of developing a surgical infection (p= .03). Patients with "clean/contaminated" wound sites prior to repair were more likely to return for an additional service (p= .02). Furthermore, each additional inch of the patient's height (p= .03) and every additional minute of operative time increased a patient's risk of developing a new-onset deep vein thrombosis (p= .01). This study offers providers a more complete picture of which preoperative characteristics affect Achilles tendon repair patients, directing management to reduce postoperative complication rates.

Rural-urban differences in estimated life expectancy associated with neighborhood-level cumulative social and environmental determinants.

Diverse neighborhood-level environmental and social impacts on health are well documented. While studies typically examine these impacts individually, examining potential health impacts from multiple sources as a whole can provide a broader context of overall neighborhood-level health impacts compared to examining each component independently. This study examined the association between cumulative neighborhood-level potential health impacts on health and expected life expectancy within neighborhoods (census tracts) across Texas using the Neighborhood Potential Health Impact Score tool. Among urban census tract neighborhoods, a difference of nearly 5 years was estimated between neighborhoods with the least health promoting cumulative health impacts compared to neighborhoods with the most health promoting cumulative health impacts. Differences were observed between rural and urban census tract neighborhoods, with rural areas having less variability in expected life expectancy associated with neighborhood-level cumulative potential health impacts compared to urban areas.

Effects of proton pump inhibitor use on the esophageal microbial community.

BACKGROUND: Changes in the esophageal microbiome correlate with esophageal disease, but the effects of proton pump inhibitor (PPI) drugs are incompletely characterized. Our objective was to identify the effects of PPI use on the microbial community of the esophagus. METHODS: Mucosal biopsies of the distal esophagus were analyzed using a customized esophageal microbiome qPCR panel array (EMB). Patient demographics, use of PPIs, duration of use and dose were recorded. RESULTS: Fifty-eight patients were included. Mean age was 60.5 years. Ninety percent (52/58) of patients were on PPIs. Mean dose was 42.7 mg. Mean duration of use was 2.5 years. The use of PPIs led to a significant difference in absolute levels of only one organism, Actinomyces, in the entire array (p < 0.01). Among patients who used proton pump inhibitors, there was no significant association between dose and absolute levels of any organism. Similarly, there was no association between duration of use and absolute levels of any organism. CONCLUSIONS: PPI use does not seem to cause significant changes in the distal esophageal microbial community. Future studies with larger sample sizes and esophageal pH testing should be performed to determine the level of acidity and its relationship to the microbial community.

Diagnosing Osteomyelitis: A Histology Guide for Pathologists.

Histopathologic examination of bone specimens coupled with bone culture is considered the gold standard for the diagnosis of osteomyelitis (OM). Despite this, studies have demonstrated interpathologist agreement in the diagnosis of OM as low as 30%, largely stemming from a lack of specific definitions and diagnostic criteria. Review of the literature has provided insight into the lifecycle of OM, illustrating the histologic progression of OM phases from acute to chronic, and provides support for defining subcategories of OM. Using an algorithmic histopathologic tool consisting of 15 criteria, each with an associated score, we defined 5 categories of OM: (1) acute OM, (2) acute and chronic OM, (3) chronic OM, (4) chronic active OM, and (5) chronic inactive OM. We reviewed 462 microscopic slides from 263 patients with suspected OM, and for each slide, we determined an algorithm-derived diagnosis, which was then used to calculate a total histopathologic load score (Jupiter score). Algorithm-derived diagnoses recapitulated original clinical diagnoses and diagnosed cases as OM that had not been originally diagnoses. These novel cases were more likely to have subsequent clinical complications. Finally, pathologic load scores were assessed for association with the category of OM.

Transmetatarsal and Minor Amputation Versus Major Leg Amputation: 30-Day Readmissions, Reamputations, and Complications.

AIMS: The optimal level of lower-extremity amputation, particularly in diabetic patients with ulceration, is debated. Proximal amputations more greatly decrease function versus distal amputations, but healing and complication rates may differ between the 2 types. This study compares early postoperative outcomes after transmetatarsal and other partial foot amputations and major leg amputations. METHODS: Data were derived from National Surgical Quality Improvement Program datasets covering 2012 to 2014. Outcomes studied include 30-day rates of readmission to hospital for wound complications. We matched the 2 types of amputation patients by propensity score to fairly compare between levels of amputation when either type of amputation might be indicated. The same analysis was then performed with emphasis on diabetic patients. RESULTS: Major amputation patients were more likely to have dependent functional status, although their surgeries tended to be more complicated. Minor amputation patients had 2.5 times the odds of irrigation and debridement compared with major amputation patients, but only 0.49 and 0.47 times the odds of urinary tract infection or transfusion, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Although short-term complications, readmissions, and reoperations were more common in distal amputation, UTI and the need for transfusion were higher in major amputation.

Risk Factors for Short-Term Complication After Open Reduction and Internal Fixation of Ankle Fractures: Analysis of a Large Insurance Claims Database.

Although fractures of the ankle are common injuries treated by surgical podiatrists and orthopaedic surgeons specializing in foot and ankle surgery, postoperative complications can occur, often imposing an economic burden on the patient. As health care in the United States moves toward value-based care, cost reduction has primarily focused on reducing complications and unplanned episodes of care. We used a large modern database of insurance claims to examine patterns of complications after open reduction internal fixation of ankle fractures, identifying diabetes mellitus and history of myocardial infarction as risk factors for postoperative infection within 30 days of surgery. Lateral malleolar repair was less likely to lead to infection, or need for repeated surgery, than was medial malleolar fracture repair. Diabetes mellitus, neuropathy, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were associated with development of postoperative cellulitis. Patients with a history of cerebrovascular accident were more likely to return to the emergency department or to have a pulmonary embolism. Male sex, presence of lupus, and increased age were associated with repeat surgery.