Introduction: Postoperative hypothermia is a common complication of orthopaedic surgery associated with increased morbidity. We identified the incidence and risk factors for postoperative hypothermia across orthopaedic surgical procedures.
Methods: A total of 3,822 procedures were reviewed. Hypothermia was defined as temperature <36.0°C. Incidences were calculated and associated risk factors were evaluated by mixed-effects regression analyses.
Results: Hypothermia was observed in 72.5% of patients intraoperatively and 8.3% postoperatively. Risk factors for postoperative hypothermia included intraoperative hypothermia (odds ratio [OR], 2.72), lower preoperative temperature (OR, 1.46), female sex (OR, 1.42), lower body mass index (OR, 1.06 per kg/m), older age (OR, 1.02 per year), adult reconstruction by specialty (OR, 4.06), and hip and pelvis procedures by anatomic region (OR, 8.76).
Discussion: Intraoperative and postoperative hypothermia are common in patients who have undergone orthopaedic surgery. The high-risk groups identified in this study warrant increased attention and should be targets for interventions to prevent hypothermia and limit morbidity.
Level of evidence: Level IV, prognostic study.