Abstract:Objective To investigate and analyze the postoperative incision infection and etiological characteristics of elderly patients with thoracolumbar fractures. Methods From May 2014 to March 2019, 378 elderly patients with thoracolumbar fractures underwent surgical treatment were selected as the research objects.The number of patients with postoperative incision infection was counted, and the pathogenic characteristics of infection site and drug sensitivity were analyzed.The risk factors of postoperative incision infection in elderly patients with thoracolumbar fracture were analyzed by Logistic regression. Results There were 36 cases of postoperative incision infection in 378 elderly patients, the incidence of postoperative incision infection was 9.52%; 46 strains of pathogenic bacteria were isolated from 36 patients, including 20 strains of GP>+P> bacteria (43.48%), 26 strains of GP>-P>bacteria (56.52%).The main GP>+P> bacteria were Staphylococcus aureus (11 strains), and the main GP>-P>bacteria were Escherichia coli (14 strains).Drug sensitivity test showed that the sensitivity of GP>+P> bacteria to nitrofurantoin, vancomycin and teicoplanin was about 90%, and that of GP>-P>bacteria to imipenem and meropenem was 100%.Logistic regression analysis showed that BMI (≥ 28 kg/mP>2P>), history of diabetes mellitus, operation time ≥ 2 h and intraoperative blood loss ≥ 1 000 ml were independent risk factors of postoperative incision infection in elderly patients (P<0.05). Conclusion There are more pathogenic bacteria and lower drug sensitivity in elderly patients with thoracolumbar fracture.There are many risk factors for postoperative incision infection. Antimicrobial agents should be selected according to drug sensitivity to reduce the incidence of infection.