Association of Bacterial Etiology With Rates of Reoperation in Patients With Septic Tenosynovitis of the Hand

Background: The anatomy of the hand makes it uniquely sensitive to complications after bacterial infection. The causative organism has been implicated as a predictor of complications after surgery. We hypothesize that bacterial etiology is associated with different operation and reoperation rates in patients with flexor tenosynovitis.

Methods: The Nationwide Inpatient Sample 2001-2013 database was queried for cases of tenosynovitis by using International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision (ICD-9) diagnostic codes 727.04 and 727.05. The pathogen cultured was also identified with ICD-9 codes, and surgical intervention was determined using ICD-9 procedural codes. χ2 analysis and logistic regression were used to determine predictors of outcomes. Outcomes included initial surgery and the need for additional surgery, which was defined as records having ICD-9 procedural codes repeated for the same patient.

Results: A total of 17,476 cases were included. The most common bacterial etiology was methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus followed by Streptococcus species. Infections with gram-positive organisms, including methicillin-sensitive and methicillin-resistant S aureus, unspecified Staphylococcus, and Streptococcus species were significantly associated with higher rates of initial surgery for tenosynovitis. Patients receiving Medicaid and Hispanic patients had a statistically significant lower likelihood of surgery. Higher rates of reoperation were reported in patients aged 30 to 50 years, 51 to 60 years, 61 to 79 years, and ≥80 years; other factors associated with higher reoperation rates were Streptococcus and Staphylococcus infections and use of Medicare.

Conclusions: The data show that cultures of Streptococcus and certain species of Staphylococcus in patients with septic tenosynovitis are predictive of operation and reoperation rates. Patients with these infectious etiologies may have more severe presentations that warrant operative intervention. This data may allow for more informed decision-making in the preoperative period.