Infections

Question 1

Most predictive marker for postoperative infection within first week?

Answer 1

CRP: most predictive for postoperative infection in the first week after fracture fixation

• should decrease from a plateau after postoperative day 2 (after fixation of fractures)
• will increase further or fail to decrease if a hematoma or infection is present

Question 2

ESR levels post-operatively?

Answer 2

ESR reaches its peak on days 4-11, then remains elevated for a prolonged period of time.