Burden of routine orthopedic implant removal a single center retrospective study

Table 2 Upper limb or spine vs lower limb with demographic and clinical characteristics of patients

Variable	Upper limb or spine, n = 55 (%)	Lower limb, n = 112 (%)	Test (P value)
Gender			χ2 = 2.48 (0.115)
Male	42 (76.4)	72 (64.3)
Female	13 (23.6)	40 (35.7)
Nationality			χ2 = 0.106 (0.744)
Saudi	50 (90.9)	100 (89.3)
Non-Saudi1	5 (9.1)	12 (10.7)
Age			t = -0.355 (0.723)
Mean (± SD)	24 (± 16)	25 (± 18)
Adults or pediatrics			χ2 = 0.598 (0.439)
Adults	34 (61.8)	76 (67.9)
Pediatrics	21 (38.2)	36 (32.1)
Length of stay			χ2 = 0.618 (0.432)
1 d	33 (60)	60 (53.6)
> 1 d	22 (40)	52 (46.4)
Complication rate			χ2 = 0.041 (0.839)
At least 12	3 (5.5)	7 (6.25)
No complication	52 (94.5)	105 (93.75)
Sick leave			χ2 = 1.606 (0.448)
No sick leave	37 (67.3)	73 (65.2)
≤ 14 d	17 (30.9)	32 (28.6)
> 14 d	1 (1.8)	7 (6.2)
Type of anesthesia			χ2 = 5.411 (0.02)
Regional	2 (3.6)	18 (16.1)
General	53 (96.4)	94 (83.9)
Duration of surgery (min) mean (SD)	74.7 (57.1)	78.2 (53.8)	t = -0.387 (0.699)
Period between insertion and removal (mo) mean (SD)	14.5 (13.5)	20.6 (19.5)	t = -2.104 (0.037)

¹Non-Saudis include patients from Yemen, Palestine, Nigeria, Nazih (no nationality), Pakistan, Australia, Somalia, Sudan, Sri Lanka, Philippines, and Jordan.

²Complications include stiffness, contaminated wound, pain, and limited range of motion. Bold indicated significant associations.