Background Surgical site infection (SSI) occurs in 3–10 % of patients with surgically treated tibial plateau fractures. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of SSI on patients’ outcome after fixation of tibial plateau fractures. Methods We conducted a retrospective multicenter study in seven participating level I trauma centers between January 2005 and December 2014. All participating centers followed up with patients with SSI. In addition, three centers followed up with patients without SSI as a reference group. Descriptive data and follow-up data with patient-reported outcome scores (Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score [KOOS] and Lysholm knee scoring scale score) were evaluated. Results In summary, 287 patients (41 with SSI and 246 without SSI; average 50.7 years) with an average follow-up of 75.9 ± 35.9 months were included in this study. Patients with SSI had a significantly poorer overall KOOS (KOOS5) (48.7 ± 23.2 versus [vs.] 71.5 ± 23.5; p
Find this article in full text from Springer Verlag.