Predicting Amputation and Multiple Debridements in Tooth Knuckle Injuries.

BACKGROUND: Tooth knuckle injuries can be expensive to treat and may necessitate amputation in some cases. Several limitations exist in the literature regarding our knowledge around the factors predicting amputation and the need for multiple debridements in treating this injury.

METHODS: A historic cohort study of 321 patients treated for tooth knuckle injuries was undertaken. Twenty-one demographic, clinical and laboratory variables were collected. Two outcome measurements were collected - the need for amputation and the need for more than one surgical debridement. A multivariate logistic regression was performed to determine the relationship between the predictor variables and the outcome measurements.

RESULTS: Of the 321 patients examined, 1.6% required amputations and 25% required multiple debridements. Osteomyelitis was found to be a major predictor for amputation in these patients (OR = 35). Delayed presentation (OR = 1.1) and diabetes (OR = 2.6) were found to significantly increase the risk of requiring multiple debridements.

CONCLUSIONS: Our models were able to predict what patients were at the greatest risk for amputation and multiple debridement. Reducing rates of osteomyelitis and delays in presentation may help reduce the incidence of amputation and reoperation in this injury.