Background: Clean neck operations (thyroidectomies, parathyroidectomies, and lymph node resection) are among the most common procedures performed in the United States. Surgical site infections (SSIs) after clean neck operations are rare, but the consequences are devastating and often life-threatening. The aim of this study was to develop a score that will identify patients at high risk for developing a SSI after a clean neck procedure. Materials and Methods: Patients with either thyroidectomies, parathyroidectomies, or lymph node resection of the neck were identified from the 2016 and 2017 databases of the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program and were used for this analysis. Our primary goal was to build a scoring system with which we will be able to identify patients at high risk for SSI after a clean neck operation. Results: Of a total of 99,877 patients, 72,719 patients had a thyroidectomy, 22,043 patients had parathyroidectomy, and 5,115 patients had lymph node resection of the neck. Multivariable logistic regression identified the following independent risk factors associated with post-operative SSI: male gender (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.25; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03-1.51), diabetes mellitus (aOR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.07-1.67), smoking (aOR, 1.66; 95% CI, 1.36-2.04), pre-operative steroid use (aOR, 1.75; 95% CI, 1.21-2.53), cancer diagnosis (aOR, 1.44; 95% CI, 1.17-1.77), radical lymphadenectomies (aOR, 2.94; 95% CI, 2.16-4), and total operative time ≥198 minutes (aOR, 2.25; 95% CI, 1.82-2.78). Afterward, we developed a prognostic score for calculating the odds of having post-operative SSI. One point was allotted for each of the aforementioned factors, except lymphadenectomies where two points were allotted, and operative time was excluded. Our score was associated with a stepwise higher risk of post-operative SSI after a clean neck operation. Conclusions: Pre-operative and intra-operative factors can predict which patients undergoing a clean neck surgery may develop SSI. Our prognostic score may help guide surgeons identify patients at high-risk for SSI after clean neck surgery and these patients might benefit from prophylactic use of antibiotic agents.
Keywords: ACS-NSQIP; parathyroidectomy; radical lymphadenectomy; surgical site infection; thyroidectomy.