Iranian Journal of Surgery

Comparison of Preoperative Serum Albumin Levels in Patients With and Without Early Infection Following Intramedullary Nailing of Femur Fractures

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

وحید ال یاسین 1
مصطفی نشاط قالیباف 2
پرهام پرهام 3

1 ستیار تخصص جراحی قلب و قفسه سینه، دانشکده پزشکی، دانشگاه علوم پزشکی تهران، تهران، ایران

2 دانشجوی پزشکی، دانشکده پزشکی، دانشگاه علوم پزشکی شهید بهشتی، تهران، ایران.

3 دانشیار ارتوپدی، بیمارستان شهدا، گروه ارتوپدی، دانشکده پزشکی، دانشگاه علوم پزشکی تبریز، تبریز، ایران

10.22034/ijs.2026.2086160.1012
Abstract
Introduction: Early postoperative infection following intramedullary fixation of femur fractures is a significant complication in orthopedic surgery, associated with increased morbidity, prolonged hospital stay, and higher healthcare costs. Patient nutritional status and preoperative biological markers, particularly serum albumin levels, play a crucial role in immune response and tissue healing. Therefore, this study aimed to compare preoperative serum albumin levels between patients with and without early infection following intramedullary fixation of the femur.

Methods: This case-control study was conducted at Shohada Hospital, Tabriz, in 2024. A total of 70 patients (35 in the infection group and 35 in the non-infection group) were enrolled. Preoperative serum albumin levels were measured, and patients were systematically monitored for signs of infection for up to four weeks postoperatively. Quantitative variables were compared using the independent-samples t-test, while qualitative variables were analyzed using the Chi-square test.

Results: The mean preoperative serum albumin level was significantly lower in patients who developed early infection compared to those without infection. Specifically, the mean ± standard deviation of serum albumin was 2.98 ± 0.41 g/dL in the infection group and 3.78 ± 0.36 g/dL in the non-infection group (P < 0.001).

Conclusion: The findings of this study demonstrate a statistically significant association between lower preoperative serum albumin levels and an increased risk of early infection following intramedullary femur fixation. These results suggest that preoperative nutritional assessment, particularly through simple and accessible markers such as serum albumin, can serve as a valuable auxiliary tool in identifying high-risk patients and guiding informed clinical decision-making.

Keywords

Serum albumin
Early infection
Femur surgery
Intramedullary femoral fixation
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Iranian Journal of Surgery

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 09 November 2026

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